adj.
Pronunciation: ( ˌ )pr ē - ' kli-ni-k ə l
Function: adjective
Date: 1926
1 : of, relating to, or concerned with the period preceding clinical manifestations
2 : of, relating to, or being the period in medical or dental education preceding the clinical study of medicine or dentistry
3 : occurring prior to clinical testing <a preclinical animal study of a new therapy>