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 Similarly, initiatives like the ATOM Project and Hugging Face’s model registry provide neutral infrastructure where models from all regions can be discovered, evaluated and deployed without preconditions. — Kevin Korte, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026 Nearby Seal Beach, just across Alamitos Bay, also contends with many of those preconditions. — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026 For ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips, legal certainty and contract enforceability are critical preconditions for re-entering Venezuela. — CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026 These changes are the preconditions for lower rates. — Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, Mercury News, 15 May 2026 The report said negotiations will begin only if the other side accepts Iran's preconditions. — Arkansas Online, 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
  • Compared with legacy platforms, the Ship-to-Shore Connector incorporates design improvements intended to increase payload capacity and speed while reducing operator and logistical requirements.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The new changes in the electoral law ease some requirements for candidates seeking office, eliminate the need for some financial documents and a mandatory medical certificate, and introduce electronic voter registration.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of requirements
Noun
  • Prosecutors accuse him of participating in schemes to divert hundreds of millions of dollars from Venezuelan government programs intended to provide housing, food and other necessities to the country’s impoverished population.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2026
  • All contemporary, they’re stocked with necessities (from towels to toiletries).
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of necessities
Noun
  • While Standard 100 focuses on harmful substances in the product, the organization’s Made in Green label also addresses production conditions and traceability.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Tornadoes were possible in parts of Virginia and North Carolina, and life-threatening surf and rip current conditions were expected to continue along the Gulf and southeastern Atlantic coasts.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of conditions
Noun
  • Those last steps together serve as prerequisites for the long-term reconstruction of the Gaza Strip as laid out in phase three.
    — KHALED ELGINDY, Foreign Affairs, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Strong data governance, quality and ownership are prerequisites for speed.
    — Sesh Tirumala, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 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 14 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

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

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
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
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All