English · Adjectives
preliminary
/prɪˈlɪm.ɪ.nər.i/
[/prɪˈlɪm.ɪ.nər.i/]
coming before
Advancedadjective
Definition
Coming before and preparing for something more important; introductory.
Example
The preliminary results look promising, but the full trial will take another year.
The preliminary results look promising, but the full trial will take another year.
Etymology
From Latin 'prae-' (before) plus 'limen' (threshold).
How & Where It’s Used
Common in research, legal, and procedural contexts.