1. Something that precedes, prepares, or introduces the main action, matter, or business: The medical check-ups were a preliminary for Peter's application to become a policeman.
2. A contest in sports to determine the finalists in a competition: There were about ten teams competing in the preliminaries before the last contestants could be determined.
3. A minor contest that is prior to the main event: The preliminaries for the boxing competition took place before the more important and last tournament the following day.
4. An academic test that takes place before a more significant, extensive, and usually more complex examination is required: As a candidate for her degree in medicine, Joan first had to take the preliminaries in certain subjects.