preliminary

[pri-lim-uh-ner-ee]

adjective

1. preceding and leading up to the main part, matter, or business; introductory; preparatory.

   preliminary examinations.

   Synonyms: prefatory

noun

plural

preliminaries 

1. something preliminary, as an introductory or preparatory step, measure, contest, etc..

   He passed the preliminary and went on to the finals.

2. a boxing match or other athletic contest that takes place before the main event on the program.

   A preliminary was fought at 8:00.

3. a preliminary examination, as of a candidate for an academic degree.

4. Printing.,  preliminaries, front matter.

preliminary

/ prɪˈlɪmɪnərɪ /

adjective

1. (usually prenominal) occurring before or in preparation; introductory

noun

1. a preliminary event or occurrence

2. an eliminating contest held before the main competition

Other Word Forms

• preliminarily adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of preliminary¹

First recorded in 1650–60; from French prélimin(aire) and New Latin praelīmināris ( pre-, liminal ) + -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of preliminary¹

C17: from New Latin praelīmināris, from Latin prae before + līmen threshold

Synonym Study

Preliminary, introductory both refer to that which comes before the principal subject of consideration. That which is preliminary is in the nature of preparation or of clearing away details which would encumber the main subject or problem; it often deals with arrangements and the like, which have to do only incidentally with the principal subject: preliminary negotiations. That which is introductory leads with natural, logical, or close connection directly into the main subject of consideration: introductory steps.

Example Sentences

The South Korean technology giant said in preliminary quarterly results Tuesday that its operating profit likely reached 12.1 trillion won, equivalent to $8.48 billion, for the July-September period, the highest in three years.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

That includes a program that handles preliminary disaster assessments, which are congressionally mandated and form the basis of a federal disaster declaration.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Last month, China’s antitrust regulator said a preliminary investigation found that Nvidia violated the country’s antimonopoly law in connection with an acquisition completed in 2020.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

U.S. economic data due Friday include the University of Michigan preliminary consumer sentiment survey for October, released at 10:00 a.m.

Read more on MarketWatch

But at a preliminary hearing Wednesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, it was revealed that Downey police were told the name of the man who got away as far back as 2014.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• exploratory 
• preparatory 
• prior