WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
pre•con•tract
(n. prē kon′trakt;v. prē′kən trakt′, -kon′trakt),USA pronunciation n.
v.t.
v.i.
pre′con•trac′tive, adj.
pre•con•trac•tu•al
(prē′kən trak′cho̅o̅ əl),USA pronunciation adj.
- a preexisting contract that legally prevents a person from making another contract of the same nature.
- (formerly) such an agreement constituting a legally binding betrothal.
v.t.
- to bind by means of a precontract.
- to contract for or agree to do (something) by means of a precontract.
v.i.
- to make a precontract.
- 1375–1425; late Middle English (noun, nominal); see pre-, contract