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Preliminary vs Prefatory - What's the difference?

preliminary | prefatory |

As adjectives the difference between preliminary and prefatory

is that preliminary is in preparation for the main matter; initial, introductory, preparatory while prefatory is introductory, preliminary, serving as a prelude or preface.

As a noun preliminary

is a preparation for a main matter; an introduction.

preliminary

English

(wikipedia preliminary)

Alternative forms

* (archaic)

Adjective

(-)
  • in preparation for the main matter; initial, introductory, preparatory
    • These are just the preliminary results.
  • *
    • And then, after a few preliminary tries, the whole farm burst out into 'Beasts of England' in tremendous unison.

    Antonyms

    * definitive, final

    Derived terms

    * preliminarily * preliminary results * preliminary considerations

    Noun

    (preliminaries)
  • A preparation for a main matter; an introduction
  • Any of a series of sports events that determine the finalists
  • A relatively minor contest that precedes a major one, especially in boxing

    • prefatory

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (obsolete)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • introductory, preliminary, serving as a prelude or preface.

    • Usage notes

    Rather formal and academic – preliminary is less formal, while introductory is less formal still. Casual alternative is to use some from of start, as in “To start…” or “Let me start by saying…”, as opposed to “By way of prefatory remarks…”.

    References