What does preselection mean?
Preselection means choosing, or making a preliminary selection of, people or things before the final choice. The word is especially common in formal and administrative contexts, such as recruitment, competitions, tendering, publishing, and panel decisions. It can describe the procedure itself, as in “the preselection process,” or the people or items chosen at that stage, as in “the committee’s preselection.” A preselection usually narrows a larger group into a shortlist or other preliminary field, after which a final decision may be made. Unlike simply saying “selection,” which can refer to the whole process or its final outcome, preselection clearly emphasizes what happens beforehand. It is therefore useful when discussing a staged decision in which early judgments determine who or what proceeds to the next stage.
The act of selecting in advance, especially as an intermediate stage before a final choice.
"Preselection of the most promising entrants reduced the number of interviews."
Common in formal and administrative contexts involving a staged process of choosing people, items, or proposals.
The people or items selected at an intermediate stage.
"The product survived the manufacturer's preselection and went forward for testing."
This sense is less frequent than the process sense and is often used in selection systems and competitions.
Used when referring to multiple preliminary selection processes or preliminary groups of chosen candidates or items.
"The regional preselections produced four finalists for the national competition."
Preselection is the art of narrowing the field before the final decision is made.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does preselection come from?
Preselection was formed in the 19th century by combining the prefix pre-, meaning “before,” with selection. Selection comes from Latin selectio, a noun derived from seligere, meaning “to choose or pick out.” The prefix makes the modern word refer specifically to a choice made before the final selection.
Related word forms
How preselection is actually used
The term is formal and administrative, especially common in recruitment, competitions, editorial selection, and other organized decision-making contexts. It often implies that a further choice will be made.
Easily confused with preselection
Preselection is a preliminary or advance stage, whereas selection can refer to the complete process or the final act of choosing.