preclearance

American  

[pree-kleer-uhns] / ˈpriˈklɪər əns /

noun

1. approval, authorization, or permission granted in advance.

   Under company procedures, certain high-ranking executives are only allowed to sell shares after obtaining preclearance.

2. Transportation. customs, security, or immigration authorization granted in advance for passengers or goods traveling or moving across borders (often used attributively).

   The preclearance facility at Terminal 2 allows outbound passengers to undertake all U.S. immigration, customs, and agriculture inspections prior to departure.

3. Law. under the U.S. Voting Rights Act, approval from the Justice Department or federal courts for changes to voting laws, processes, or districts (often used attributively).

   In order to prevent changes that have a discriminatory purpose or effect, certain jurisdictions are required to obtain preclearance before implementing new voting practices.

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Etymology

Origin of preclearance

First recorded in 1925–30; pre- ( def. ) + clearance ( def. )

Example Sentences

After speaking with construction workers, two of Pirro’s deputies were advised they couldn’t access the site without preclearance, and they were given the contact information for the Fed’s legal staff.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

As the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg warned in her dissent: Throwing out preclearance “is like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet.”

From Slate • Sep. 24, 2024

Holder decision viewed the Voting Rights Act preclearance system as initially necessary to address efforts to suppress Black votes.

From Salon • Aug. 6, 2023

This program is available at 47 sites, including 33 U.S. international airports, 10 preclearance locations and four seaports.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 31, 2023

Maryland was not among the states, mostly in the South, that was covered under the provision known as preclearance before the court ended it.

From Washington Times • Feb. 25, 2023