Stipulations (3)
I believe the answer is:
ifs
'stipulations' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for ifs that I've seen before include "Conditions or suppositions, may join with buts" , "If . . . and ands were pots and pans" , "Conditional conjunctions" , "Suppositions, may be accompanied by buts" , "No ...,ands or buts, no argument allowed" .)