noun · verb · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈpɹiːkənˌdɪʃən/
Canada, General-American:/ˈpɹikənˌdɪʃən/
Australian:/ˈpɹiːkənˌdɪʃən/
New-Zealand:/ˈpɹiːkənˌdɪʃən/
Received-Pronunciation:/ˌpɹiːkənˈdɪʃən/
Canada, General-American:/ˌpɹikənˈdɪʃən/
ColoradoRecorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australian:/ˌpɹiːkənˈdɪʃən/
New-Zealand:/ˌpɹiːkənˈdəʃən/
CMU ARPABET:P R IY2 K AH0 N D IH1 SH AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A condition that requires satisfaction before taking a course of action.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
A marriage licence is a precondition for a wedding.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: prerequisite
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A medical illness, ailment, or adverse condition that exists before an insurance policy takes effect.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To condition in advance
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: fix, prepare, set up, ready, gear up, set
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per- Proto-Indo-European *preh2- Proto-Indo-European *-i Proto-Indo-European *préh2i? Proto-Italic *prai Proto-Italic *prai- Latin prae-lbor. Middle English pre- English pre- English condition English precondition From pre- + condition.
Across languages
Translations
39 source translations are retained for this English entry.
