Preliminares

Preliminares is the plural form of preliminar in Spanish and Portuguese, used to describe the steps, rounds, or proceedings that precede a main event. The term comes from Latin prae-, meaning before, and limen, meaning threshold, passing into French as préliminaire and into Spanish and Portuguese as preliminares. In English contexts, the closest cognate is preliminaries.

In legal contexts, preliminares refer to preliminary proceedings designed to determine whether a case should proceed to trial. These can include investigations, hearings, or examinations that assess whether there is sufficient basis to advance litigation. In research and project work, preliminares denote initial studies or activities—such as feasibility analyses, literature reviews, or pilot tests—that precede a full-scale study or project.

In sports, entertainment, and competitions, preliminares describe early rounds or events that determine qualification for the main event. This includes preliminary bouts in combat sports, early rounds in tournaments, or auditions for performances and pageants. The concept similarly applies to any organized activity where a separate, smaller phase screens or selects participants before the final stage.

Usage varies by region, but preliminares are commonly encountered in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries and in contexts translated from those languages. They are intended to clarify, screen, or narrow options before moving to a definitive or more formal phase, rather than constituting the final outcome. Related terms include preliminary examination and preliminary hearing.