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
  • Instead, the fresh requirements appeared to diminish prospects for a quick deal, despite optimism last week an agreement was near.
    — Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
  • This flexibility is particularly relevant for unmanned and specialized maritime systems, where requirements can change quickly and production may need to adapt to specific operational needs.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of requirements
Noun
  • Technological advances have made many necessities dramatically cheaper and more widely available.
    — Preston Fore, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The final day for parents and their children to fill their carts with school necessities — backpacks, snacks and notebooks — came as students and families prepared for the new school year.
    — Nikiya Carrero, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of necessities
Noun
  • Wu said that the fungus mostly affects patients with severe underlying medical conditions who require complex medical care.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Media reports have suggested however, that Ocalan’s conditions in his island prison off Istanbul will likely be improved, giving him broader visiting conditions and communication with the outside world.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of conditions
Noun
  • While some vendors are being very transparent about pricing and prerequisites, others are not.
    — Jason Andersen, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • To be blunt, Ballas more than has the prerequisites needed of him to judge Next Pro (notably alongside his mother, ballroom dance world legend Shirley Ballas).
    — McKinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 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 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on preconditions

Nglish: Translation of preconditions for Spanish Speakers

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 vacuous

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

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

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

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

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

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

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

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
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
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All