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Added 9 October 2026

preliminary

/pɹɪˈlɪmɪn(ə)ɹi/ noun

Latin root: praelīmināris Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about preliminary at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A minor match preceding the main event.
Something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows.
training is a necessary preliminary to employment

adjective

Denoting an action or event preceding or in preparation for something more important.
a preliminary investigation

Origin

Borrowed from New Latin praelīmināris, formed from prae- (“before”) + līmen (“threshold”) + -āris (adjectival suffix); compare Latin līmināris (“of or belonging to a threshold”). Compare French préliminaire.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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