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

ˌprē-ˌkwä-lə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

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

Examples of prequalify in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Try to prequalify with at least three lenders, such as a bank, a credit union and an online refinancing provider. —Rebecca Safier, wsj.com, 12 Dec. 2023

For that to happen, the WHO still needs to prequalify the vaccine, an assessment that tells nonprofit purchasers and national regulatory authorities that a new drug is safe and effective. —Maryn McKenna, WIRED, 9 Oct. 2023

Amazon Prime members can use their subscription to prequalify for Boost’s $25/month plan at a new storefront(Opens in a new window). —Rob Pegoraro, PCMAG, 26 July 2023

In open session at 6 p.m., the council will discuss an ordinance establishing procedures to prequalify contractors and to debar contractors; and an ordinance modifying provisions to suspend or revoke tobacco licenses. —Laura Groch, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 June 2021

Borrowers looking to consolidate with a loan can prequalify with some lenders to see potential rates without affecting their credit scores. —cleveland, 20 Feb. 2021

Hospital regulators, including the IRS and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, allow hospitals to use tools that prequalify patients for financial aid. —Anna Wilde Mathews, WSJ, 17 Nov. 2022

The council approved an ordinance establishing procedures to prequalify contractors and to debar contractors; and an ordinance modifying provisions to suspend or revoke tobacco licenses. —Laura Groch, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 June 2021

For example, those who receive the opportunity to get a lease with a turnkey home typically have to prequalify for a mortgage within 45 days. —Promised Land, ProPublica, 26 Oct. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined at sense 1