preconditions

noun

plural of precondition
as in requirements
something that must exist or happen before something else can exist or happen An education is an important precondition for getting a good job. They insist on a guarantee as a precondition to the deal.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of preconditions Both are preconditions for a company, and a life, built to last. — Jan Gerber, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 These changes are the preconditions for lower rates. — Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, Mercury News, 15 May 2026 That division was visible earlier this week when plans for a second round of talks in Islamabad collapsed after Iranian officials failed to confirm participation and instead introduced new preconditions under pressure from hard-line factions. — Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026 The report said negotiations will begin only if the other side accepts Iran's preconditions. — Arkansas Online, 11 Apr. 2026 Iranian preconditions But question marks hang over the ceasefire and the talks' ultimate outcome. — Azhar Sukri,kevin Breuninger,terri Cullen, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2026 The ceasefire announced by Trump on Tuesday night has been fragile, and both sides have accused the other of not meeting preconditions for the talks. — Justin Fishel, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026 And long-term, bat oils and droppings can stain a home and create preconditions for mold. — Caden Perry, jsonline.com, 24 Mar. 2026 Those funds pay for emergency shelters, transitional housing and rapid rehousing programs – which provide temporary rental assistance and the assistance of a social worker, without preconditions – and permanent supportive housing. — Deyanira Nevárez Martínez, The Conversation, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preconditions
  1. requirements
  2. necessities
  3. conditions
  4. prerequisites
Noun
  • Students from elsewhere will need to check if the programs meet their state requirements, said Pam Downing, the school's director of communications, in an email.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Abbott’s office says the audit is necessary in part because fewer than 10% of data centers have been complying with existing state reporting requirements on power and water usage, according to press secretary Andrew Mahaleris, per Newsweek.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of requirements
Noun
  • In South Florida, the affordability crisis is proving particularly difficult for residents managing chronic conditions, who are increasingly forced to choose between basic necessities and medical care.
    — Manuel Bojorquez, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • That’s because most teachers have to pay for supplies, decor, and other classroom necessities out of their own pocket.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of necessities
Noun
  • The fact a majority of them belong to people who traveled from another country and the conditions of the desert itself both complicate efforts to identify remains, therefore hindering missing persons cases, experts say.
    — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Relatives of sailors on board the carrier have described reports of deteriorating conditions and morale.
    — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of conditions
Noun
  • Four critical prerequisites are necessary for the idea of progress to develop and become a driving force in society.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Then proceed to more athletic plyometrics, making sure to note any prerequisites for each exercise.
    — Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of prerequisites

Browse Nearby Words

precondition
preconditions
precursor
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Preconditions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preconditions. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of kith

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 28

Why do we say 'break a leg'?
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All