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precondition

American  
[pree-kuhn-dish-uhn] / ˌpri kənˈdɪʃ ən /

noun

  1. something that must come before or is necessary to a subsequent result; condition.

    a precondition for a promotion.

verb (used with object)

  1. to subject (a person or thing) to a special treatment in preparation for a subsequent experience, process, test, etc..

    to precondition a surface to receive paint.
precondition British  
/ ˌpriːkənˈdɪʃən /

noun

  1. a necessary or required condition; prerequisite

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (tr) psychol to present successively two stimuli to (an organism) without reinforcement so that they become associated; if a response is then conditioned to the second stimulus on its own, the same response will be evoked by the first stimulus

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of precondition

First recorded in 1910–15; pre- + condition

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Georgia, he added, was prepared to "discuss all issues without any preconditions and to rebuild strategic ties based on a concrete roadmap".

From Barron's

Azerbaijan sees the opening of regional communications as the main precondition for signing a comprehensive peace treaty with its rival.

From Barron's

"Cuba is willing to engage in dialogue with the United States, a dialogue on any topic... but without pressure or preconditions," Diaz-Canel said on state TV and radio.

From Barron's

Analysts had said casting a dissenting vote may have been a precondition for keeping his long-shot candidacy viable.

From The Wall Street Journal

It is the precondition for any serious education.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.