preseason
🇺🇸
/ˌpriːˈsiːzn/
🇬🇧
/ˌpriːˈsiːzn/
happening before the main part of a sports season
He got injured in a preseason game.
the time before the main part of a sports season when teams prepare
The team's performance in the preseason doesn't always predict how they'll do in the regular season.