<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

<documentType>4/A</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-05-08</periodOfReport>
	<dateOfOriginalSubmission>2003-05-13</dateOfOriginalSubmission>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
<issuer>		<issuerCik>0000005513</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UNUMPROVIDENT CORP</issuerName>
<issuerTradingSymbol>UNM</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
		<reportingOwnerId>
			<rptOwnerCik>0001200300</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GOLDSBERRY RONALD E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
<reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>1</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<nonDerivativeSecurity>
		<securityTitle>
			<value>Common Stock</value>
		</securityTitle>
		<transactionDate>
			<value>2003-05-07</value>
		</transactionDate>
		<transactionCoding>
			<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
			<transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
			<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
		</transactionCoding>
		<transactionAmounts>
			<transactionShares>
				<value>5000</value>
			</transactionShares>
			<transactionValue>
				<value>11.09</value>
			</transactionValue>
			<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
				<value>A</value>
			</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
		</transactionAmounts>
		<postTransactionAmounts>
			<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
				<value>6800.00</value>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
		</postTransactionAmounts>
		<ownershipNature>
			<directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<value>I</value>
			</directOrIndirectOwnership>
			<natureOfOwnership>
				<value>By Family Limited Partnership</value>
			</natureOfOwnership>
		</ownershipNature>
	</nonDerivativeSecurity>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">Mr. Goldsberry also owns 19,208 shares of common stock directly in his name. Six thousand four hundred ninety-one (6,491) of the directly-owned shares are deferred share rights.</footnote>
	</footnotes>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: Susan N. Roth on behalf of</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-05-14</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

