pre·treat·ment
ˌprē-ˈtrēt-mənt 
variants
or pre-treatment
plural pretreatments or pre-treatments
: an act or instance of treating someone or something in advance : preliminary or preparatory treatment
pretreatment of stains
pretreatment of a surface for painting
… pretreatment is often required to remove oil and grease from the waste water.—
John H. Sheridan
John H. Sheridan… will allow public works crews to apply salt brine to pre-treat city streets before snow events. The pre-treatment creates an additional layer that helps to melt snow …—Kevin Thompkins
Kevin ThompkinsA drug called atropine can reverse the effects if administered promptly, and pretreatment with pyridostigmine can help shield the body …—Adam Rogers
Adam Rogers
also
: a substance used for such treatment
Oils give great shine, but I also use them as a pretreatment to prevent damage prior to coloring my natural hair. —Deena Campbell
Deena Campbell
variants
or pre-treatment
1
: existing or occurring before treatment
the pretreatment period
a pretreatment condition
the patient's pretreatment drug regimen
When treatment was discontinued, the condition of treated nasal muscles quickly returned to pretreatment levels.—Michael Vaiman et al.
Michael Vaiman et al.2
: of, relating to, or being a pretreatment
a waste pretreatment facility/system
The current chemical pretreatment process uses relatively harsh conditions to break down the tough structure of grass and other biomass.—Phys.org
Phys.orgIn my weekly Ask a Clean Person columns, I talk a lot about laundry boosters and stain pretreatment products …—Jolie Kerr
Jolie KerrExamples of pretreatment in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 19 Sep. 2024
The 9 Best Laundry Stain Removers, Tested and Reviewed
Wash in Cold Water
After applying a stain pretreatment, launder the bag in cold water using the gentle cycle.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Oct. 2024
It is formulated to treat a wide variety of stain types, including waxes, oils, and pigments, and can be used as a stand-in for stain pretreatment agents.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2024
Various pretreatment methods, such as coating with olive oil before drying, have been investigated to retain quality and prevent losses.
—Lauren O'Connor, Ms, Health, 29 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pretreatment 
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Noun
The special pretreatment is applied in the first box of the dyeing machine which takes place on the dry denim yarn, Umberto De Vita, market segment director-denim, Archroma Textile Effects, told Rivet.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 19 Sep. 2024
The 9 Best Laundry Stain Removers, Tested and Reviewed
Wash in Cold Water
After applying a stain pretreatment, launder the bag in cold water using the gentle cycle.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Oct. 2024
It is formulated to treat a wide variety of stain types, including waxes, oils, and pigments, and can be used as a stand-in for stain pretreatment agents.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2024
Various pretreatment methods, such as coating with olive oil before drying, have been investigated to retain quality and prevent losses.
—Lauren O'Connor, Ms, Health, 29 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pretreatment
Dictionary Entries Near pretreatment
Cite this Entry
“Pretreatment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pretreatment. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
pretreatment
1 of 2 noun
pre·treat·ment
-mənt
: preliminary or preparatory treatment
unsuccessful … in preventing tumor growth by pretreatment with vitamin A in mice—E. L. Felix et al.
E. L. Felix et al.pretreatment
2 of 2 adjective
: occurring in or typical of the period prior to treatment
a patient's pretreatment blood pressure
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