pretreatment

1 of 2

noun

pre·​treat·​ment ˌprē-ˈtrēt-mənt How to pronounce pretreatment (audio)
variants or pre-treatment
plural pretreatments or pre-treatments
: an act or instance of treating someone or something in advance : preliminary or preparatory treatment
pretreatment of stains
pretreatment of a surface for painting
pretreatment is often required to remove oil and grease from the waste water.John H. Sheridan
… will allow public works crews to apply salt brine to pre-treat city streets before snow events. The pre-treatment creates an additional layer that helps to melt snow …Kevin Thompkins
A drug called atropine can reverse the effects if administered promptly, and pretreatment with pyridostigmine can help shield the body …Adam Rogers
also : a substance used for such treatment
Oils give great shine, but I also use them as a pretreatment to prevent damage prior to coloring my natural hair. Deena Campbell

pretreatment

2 of 2

adjective

variants or pre-treatment
1
: existing or occurring before treatment
the pretreatment period
a pretreatment condition
the patient's pretreatment drug regimen
When treatment was discontinued, the condition of treated nasal muscles quickly returned to pretreatment levels.Michael Vaiman et al.
2
: of, relating to, or being a pretreatment
a waste pretreatment facility/system
The current chemical pretreatment process uses relatively harsh conditions to break down the tough structure of grass and other biomass.Phys.org
In my weekly Ask a Clean Person columns, I talk a lot about laundry boosters and stain pretreatment products …Jolie Kerr

Examples of pretreatment in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The 9 Best Laundry Stain Removers, Tested and Reviewed Wash in Cold Water After applying a stain pretreatment, launder the bag in cold water using the gentle cycle. Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Oct. 2024 It is formulated to treat a wide variety of stain types, including waxes, oils, and pigments, and can be used as a stand-in for stain pretreatment agents. Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2024 Various pretreatment methods, such as coating with olive oil before drying, have been investigated to retain quality and prevent losses. Lauren O'Connor, Ms, Health, 29 Sep. 2024 That figure is said to climb to almost 100% when the plasma pretreatment is factored in. Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 10 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for pretreatment 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pretreatment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1899, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1912, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pretreatment was in 1899

Dictionary Entries Near pretreatment

Cite this Entry

“Pretreatment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pretreatment. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Medical Definition

pretreatment

1 of 2 noun
pre·​treat·​ment -mənt How to pronounce pretreatment (audio)
: preliminary or preparatory treatment
unsuccessful … in preventing tumor growth by pretreatment with vitamin A in miceE. L. Felix et al.

pretreatment

2 of 2 adjective
: occurring in or typical of the period prior to treatment
a patient's pretreatment blood pressure
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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