prequalify
verb
pre·qual·i·fy
ˌprē-ˈkwä-lə-ˌfī
variants
or pre-qualify
prequalified or pre-qualified; prequalifying or pre-qualifying
1
intransitive
: to qualify as a candidate : to meet the preliminary requirements for something
She prequalified for a mortgage.
Experts suggest that you pre-qualify for a loan before you begin shopping in order to make sure there will be no deal-killing glitches.—Bill Lindsey
… sometimes, you will prequalify for an amount that won't pan out in the preapproval process. You don't want to look for homes that, in actuality, you can't afford.—Donna Raskin and Susan Hawthorne
To prequalify, contractors are required to complete questionnaires that probe such things as the contractor's financial situation, the experience of the company and its key personnel …—David J. Pratt
2
transitive
: to qualify or certify (someone or something) as a candidate
The bank prequalified her for a mortgage.
… the city prequalified three construction and engineering consortiums to bid on the $535 million project.—The Ottawa (Canada) Business Journal
prequalified
adjective
or pre-qualified
a prequalified buyer/contractor
prequalified bids
prequalification
noun
or pre-qualification
Prequalification means you fill out all the forms and get a commitment from a lender that it will lend you a certain amount of money on prescribed terms …
—Michael C. Donaldson
the prequalification process
Cite this Entry
“Prequalify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prequalify. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share