pre-service
UK: ˌpriːˈsɜːvɪs | US: ˌpriːˈsɜːrvɪs
adj. occurring or provided before entering formal service (e.g., training before employment)
n. a preparatory phase or training period prior to active service
The word "pre-service" combines the Latin-derived prefix "pre-" (meaning "before") with the noun "service" (from Old French servise, ultimately from Latin servitium, meaning "duty or labor"). The term emerged in the 19th–20th centuries to describe preparatory training (e.g., for teachers or military personnel) before formal engagement. The morphemes retain their original spellings while logically segmenting the temporal ("pre-") and functional ("service") aspects of the word.
The university offers a pre-service program for aspiring teachers.
Pre-service training is mandatory for all new healthcare workers.
Her pre-service experience included internships at two schools.
The military requires six months of pre-service education.
During the pre-service phase, trainees learn essential safety protocols.