preprimary

American  

[pree-prahy-mer-ee, -muh-ree] / priˈpraɪ mɛr i, -mə ri /

adjective

Politics.

1. preceding a primary election.

   preprimary endorsement.

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Etymology

Origin of preprimary

pre- + primary

Example Sentences

Colbert chose to give precious airtime, at this vital preprimary moment, to Talarico—not to Crockett, the progressive sensation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 18, 2026

These were preprimary polls, and in the past preprimary polls were not reliable.

From Slate • May 17, 2016

I put myself in his shoes, and I feel like I’m sure he doesn’t really want to use hard numbers at a time when nobody’s voted and you have these preprimary polls.

From Slate • May 17, 2016

There were campaigns that died or came to life on the stage, but for the most part debates, especially in the preprimary months, ratified what already was.

From Time • Oct. 14, 2015

Opinion writers have been perplexed at the preprimary turnaround, but the two-year walk-up to 2008 won't just consist of courting the party's die-hards.

From Time Magazine Archive