preliminært

Preliminärt is a Swedish adjective meaning provisional, tentative, or not yet finalized. It is used to describe information, plans, results, diagnoses, or decisions that may change as more information becomes available. The term is commonly attached to nouns such as resultat, plan, bedömning, diagnos, undersökning, beslut, or arbete. Examples include preliminära resultat (preliminary results), en preliminär plan (a provisional plan), and ett preliminärt beslut (a preliminary decision). In many contexts, using preliminärt signals that the material is to be confirmed, revised, or supplemented before it can be regarded as final.

Etymology and variations: preliminärt is borrowed from the French préliminaire, and is used in Swedish with the standard adjektivböjning. The base form is preliminär, with preliminärt used in predicative or neuter contexts, while plural and feminine forms follow ordinary Swedish adjective patterns (for example preliminära resultat). The word is widely used across fields such as academia, medicine, law, government, and business.

Usage notes: While preliminärt communicates provisional status, it does not specify the scope or duration of the provisional state. The term is typically replaced by more definite language once final results or approvals are obtained. It is important to choose precise alternatives when the level of certainty or timeline is known, to avoid ambiguity in formal documents.

See also: provisorisk, tillfällig, preliminär.