preseason

noun

pre·​sea·​son ˌprē-ˈsē-zᵊn 

ˈprē-ˌsē-zᵊn

plural preseasons

: a period of time immediately preceding a season

tourists who visit during the preseason

especially : a training period preceding a sport's regular season in which teams compete in unofficial games

The preseason starts in two weeks.

performed well in (the) preseason

Quarterback John Friesz was lost for the year in the preseason to knee surgery.

—Paul Zimmerman

Dennis Rodman's mysterious boycott finally ended on Monday when he arrived for practice for the first time since the start of preseason.

—Jack McCallum

preseason adjective

preseason football

preseason training

the preseason opener/finale

preseason rankings/polls

the preseason favorite

Examples of preseason in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In his second season, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ryan Flournoy has gone from a preseason roster casualty to firmly cementing himself as the third receiver option behind CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. —Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Dec. 2025

Another preseason game was played there in 1965. —Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 23 Dec. 2025

It’s been a long 2025 NFL season so far with twists, turns, shocking injuries, surprising contenders and disappointing years from preseason favorites. —Patrick Sung, CNN Money, 23 Dec. 2025

Kelce was drafted in 2013, but a preseason knee injury sidelined him for nearly his entire rookie season aside from limited action on special teams. —Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 21 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for preseason

• milesian
• partizan
• postseason
• unreason
• reason
• season
• seizin
• treason