The term "preliminary final" can have different meanings depending on the context. Here are two possible meanings:

• In the context of the Australian Football League (AFL), a preliminary final is a game played in the third week of the finals series, which determines which two teams will advance to the grand final. The winners of the preliminary finals move on to the grand final, while the losers are eliminated from the finals series.

• In the context of a legal document, such as a prospectus, a preliminary final can refer to a specific version of the document that is delivered to underwriters or regulators for review before the final version is released.

In general, the term "preliminary" refers to something that comes before the main event or is done as a preparation or introduction. For example, passing a preliminary round in a competition means qualifying for the next round, which is usually the final.