- approval, authorization, or permission granted in advance:Under company procedures, certain high-ranking executives are only allowed to sell shares after obtaining preclearance.
- customs, security, or immigration authorization granted in advance for passengers or goods traveling or moving across borders (often used attributively): The preclearance facility at Terminal 2 allows outbound passengers to undertake all U.S. immigration, customs, and agriculture inspections prior to departure.
- under the U.S. Voting Rights Act, approval from the Justice Department or federal courts for changes to voting laws, processes, or districts (often used attributively): In order to prevent changes that have a discriminatory purpose or effect, certain jurisdictions are required to obtain preclearance before implementing new voting practices.
