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preliminary Definition

pre·limi·nary (prē lim′ə ner′ē, pri-)

adjective

coming before or leading up to the main action, discussion, business, etc.; introductory; prefatory; preparatory

Etymology: < Fr préliminaire or ModL praeliminaris < L prae- (see pre-) + L liminaris, of a threshold < limen, threshold (see limen)

noun pl. -·nar′·ies

  1. a preliminary step, procedure, etc.
    1. a preliminary examination
    2. a contest or match before the main one

Etymology: Fr préliminaires, pl.

preliminary Related Forms
pre·lim′i·nar′i·ly adverb
preliminary Synonyms

preliminary

modif.

preparatory, preceding, prefatory; see introductory 1.

preliminary Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • legal: This will ensure that the necessary legal preliminaries to Marriage in Scotland are adhered to, within the statutory time limits required.
  • necessary: This will ensure that the necessary legal preliminaries to Marriage in Scotland are adhered to, within the statutory time limits required.

Modifies a noun

  • finding: The impact of firearm control legislation in Queensland: preliminary findings.
  • hearing: The Tribunal will give further details at the preliminary hearing.
  • ruling: Background This was a preliminary ruling in an application under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996.
  • result: Egg will announce its preliminary full year results on 19 February 2001.
  • investigation: A commission of three bishops made the preliminary investigation; the accused being denied a hearing.
  • examination: The course The first year course is self-contained and leads to the University Preliminary examination at the end of the year.

Modifying Another Word

  • very: We intend to start as soon as possible, and some very preliminary work has already begun in London.
  • only: It said the views were indeed only preliminary, only provisional.
  • not: They are not preliminary studies for sculpture but related explorations freed from many of the laws of physics that a sculptor must obey.

Used with adjective complement

  • regard: We shall therefore confine ourselves to what, in the main, may be regarded as preliminary.
  • follow: Following preliminary ` Markman ' hearings in the second half of the year, a trial date has now been set for March 2001.
  • undertake: We then undertake Preliminary Risk Assessment on the application, and if you pass this, your check is banked for clearance.