precondition
C1Formal, Academic, Technical
Definition
Meaning
A condition that must be fulfilled before something else can happen or be done.
A prerequisite; something required or necessary as a prior condition.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a logical or procedural necessity rather than a simple requirement.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or meaning differences. Usage is equally formal in both variants.
Connotations
Slightly more technical/academic in British usage; slightly more business-oriented in American English.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both variants, with a slight edge in American business/tech contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
precondition for + noun/gerundprecondition to + noun/gerundVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Set the preconditions (for something)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
In a contract, the client's deposit is a precondition for starting the work.
Academic
A stable political environment is often seen as a precondition for economic development.
Everyday
Finishing your homework is a precondition for playing video games tonight.
Technical
Initialising the database is a precondition for running the application server.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The agreement was preconditioned on the results of the survey.
- Success cannot be preconditioned.
American English
- The deal was preconditioned upon regulatory approval.
- They preconditioned their support on budget concessions.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard)
American English
- (Not standard)
adjective
British English
- The precondition state of the system was unknown.
- (Rare usage)
American English
- A precondition requirement is listed in section 3.
- (Rare usage)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Good weather is a precondition for a picnic.
- A signed agreement is a precondition for any further collaboration.
- The government set several preconditions for the peace talks.
- The removal of trade barriers is an essential precondition for economic integration.
- Her acceptance of the offer was preconditioned on a generous relocation package.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think PRE-CONDITION: a condition that comes PREviously.
Conceptual Metaphor
FOUNDATION (A precondition is the foundation upon which something is built).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating directly as 'предусловие' which is very technical; 'необходимое условие' or 'требование' is often more natural.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'precondition' interchangeably with 'condition' (a precondition is a specific type of condition that must be met *beforehand*).
- Incorrect preposition: 'precondition of' instead of 'precondition for/to'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is closest in meaning to 'precondition'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily yes, but it can appear in everyday speech when discussing rules or prerequisites.
A 'precondition' is a specific type of 'requirement' that must be satisfied *before* the main action can proceed.
Yes, though less common. It means 'to set as a precondition' (e.g., 'Their support was preconditioned on reform').
'Precondition for' (or 'precondition to') is standard. 'Precondition of' is generally considered incorrect.