Contract Glossary
Provision
Definition
A provision is any specific rule, requirement, or condition in a contract. 'Clause,' 'provision,' and 'section' are basically interchangeable — lawyers use them all to mean the same thing: a piece of the contract that does something.
In Practice
When someone says 'check the payment provision,' they mean the part of the contract that covers how and when you get paid. When a lawyer says 'this provision is unenforceable,' they mean that specific section won't hold up in court. Every provision exists for a reason, even the ones that look like filler. The governing law provision that nobody reads? That's the one that matters most when a dispute hits.
Common in these contract types
Related terms
Frequently asked questions about provision
Nothing meaningful. Both refer to a specific section of a contract. Some lawyers use 'clause' for shorter, self-contained sections and 'provision' more broadly, but there's no legal distinction. Don't lose sleep over terminology — focus on what the section actually says.
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Create your contractThis content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For contracts with significant financial or legal implications, review by a qualified attorney is recommended.