An individual appointed by the court in respect of a company, usually for the purpose of ensuring the preservation of the company's assets or conducting investigations. A provisional liquidator may be appointed only after a winding-up petition against the company has been presented. A provisional liquidator will have such powers as the court directs. These powers are usually more limited than the powers of a liquidator.

For more information, see Quick guide, Provisional liquidation or Practice note: overview, Provisional liquidation: an overview.