preexisting

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Before the Affordable Care Act took effect in 2014, insurers in the individual market could refuse coverage to people with serious preexisting conditions or those working in high-risk occupations.

From MarketWatch • May 30, 2026

The upheaval fed into Venezuela's preexisting isolation, with most major international airlines having already halted connections to the country given the government's enormous unpaid debt.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

This system is not perfect, but past presidents have largely respected the preexisting makeup of immigration courts when they enter office, appointing more immigration judges of their own choosing throughout their term.

From Slate • Apr. 23, 2026

“I want something super maximalist. I want it to be a preexisting image. And I wanted to do something that is shocking or crazy,” says Kemp.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 16, 2026

At many moments in history, states have arisen independently—or, as cultural anthropologists say, “pristinely,” that is, in the absence of any preexisting surrounding states.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond