preclinical

[ pree-klin-i-kuhl ]

adjective

, Medicine/Medical.

1. of or relating to the period prior to the appearance of the symptoms.

preclinical

/ priːˈklɪnɪkəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or occurring during the early phases of a disease before accurate diagnosis is possible
2. of, relating to, or designating an early period of scientific study by a medical student before practical experience with patients

Derived Forms

• preˈclinically, adverb

Other Words From

• pre·clini·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of preclinical¹

First recorded in 1930–35; pre- + clinical

Example Sentences

About 47 million Americans have some evidence of preclinical Alzheimer’s disease, which means their brains show signs of adverse changes, but symptoms have not yet developed.

From Washington Post

Following these results and the latest encouraging new preclinical data, we will now work to further optimize our candidate to achieve this goal.

From Fortune

Gilead has begun preclinical studies to compare both drugs, according to company spokesperson Chris Ridley.

From Science News

Together, the cell and animal studies “are the preclinical data that would normally be required for a drug trial to actually start,” she says.

From Science News

Four in Phase I trials, 19 in preclinical testsResearchers make a DNA copy of the virus’s RNA instructions for making a particular protein.

From Science News