1. to specify or determine something in advance, before it is needed or used
Usage: technical; formal

Examples

• The software allows you to prespecify the parameters before running the analysis.
• Researchers must prespecify their hypotheses before collecting data to avoid bias.
• You can prespecify the output format in the configuration file.
• The contract prespecifies the terms and conditions that both parties must follow.
• The system requires you to prespecify the file location where results will be saved.