From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpreseasonpre‧sea‧son /ˌpriːˈsiːzən◂/ adjective [only before noun] preseason matches, training etc happen in the time immediately before a sport’s normal season OPP postseason preseason training
Examples from the Corpus
preseason• I know they had a good preseason, but the preseason games should not count more than the games late.• Smith is only holding back the Cardinals, a preseason favorite to win the National League Central.• Indiana ranked high as a preseason favorite, while Stanford went unnoticed in all three major polls.• In a preseason game against Jacksonville, Doleman used another move to sack the quarterback that left the Jags' Boselli chagrined.• preseason injuries• It is only preseason, not conference play, but it still counts; it still matters.• Three years ago, Steve Fisher was fired and Ellerbe promoted to interim coach just days before preseason practice began.• All the preseason stuff is over now. 