First Known Use: 1656
Dictionary
1preliminary
noun pre·lim·i·nary \pri-ˈli-mə-ˌner-ē\
: something that comes first in order to prepare for or introduce the main part of something else
: a game that is played before the main part of a competition to decide which players or teams will be allowed to continue playing
plural pre·lim·i·nar·ies
Full Definition of PRELIMINARY
: something that precedes or is introductory or preparatory: as a : a preliminary scholastic examination b plural British : front matter c : a preliminary heat or trial (as of a race) d : a minor match preceding the main event (as of a boxing card)
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Origin of PRELIMINARY
French préliminaires, plural, from Medieval Latin praeliminaris, adjective, preliminary, from Latin prae- pre- + limin-, limen threshold
Related to PRELIMINARY
Rhymes with PRELIMINARY
apothecary, bicentenary, confectionary, confectionery, consigliere, constabulary, contemporary, deflationary, disciplinary, discretionary, diversionary, epistolary, exclusionary, expansionary, extemporary, extraordinary, fiduciary, hereditary, illusionary, imaginary, incendiary, inflationary, insanitary, intercalary, involuntary, itinerary, judiciary, lending library, marionberry, obituary, olallieberry, on the contrary, pecuniary, pituitary, precautionary, presidiary, probationary, proprietary, provisionary, reactionary, subliterary, subsidiary, tercentenary, unnecessary, veterinary, vocabulary, voluptuary
2preliminary
adjective
: coming before the main part of something
Full Definition of PRELIMINARY
: coming before and usually forming a necessary prelude to something else <preliminary studies> <preliminary results>
— pre·lim·i·nar·i·ly \-ˌli-mə-ˈner-ə-lē\ adverb
See preliminary defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of PRELIMINARY
circa 1667
Related to PRELIMINARY
- Synonyms
- beginning, introductory, precursory, prefatory, prelim, prelusive, preparative, preparatory, primary
PRELIMINARY Defined for Kids
1preliminary
noun pre·lim·i·nary \pri-ˈli-mə-ˌner-ē\
plural pre·lim·i·nar·ies
Definition of PRELIMINARY for Kids
: something that comes before the main or final part <The athletes competed in the preliminaries.>
2preliminary
adjective
Definition of PRELIMINARY for Kids
: coming before the main or full part <I won the preliminary round.> <The preliminary results are promising.>
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