prerequisite
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
noun
Etymology
Origin of prerequisite
Compare meaning
How does prerequisite compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A prerequisite is a required prior condition. If something is required in advance of something else, like if you have to take a beginning Spanish class before signing up for Spanish II, then it’s a prerequisite. Add pre meaning "before" to require and you have something that's "required before." (That's helpful when trying to spell prerequisite!) Prerequisites to be able to graduate from college can seem like a pain, but most schools offer some fun ways to fulfill them. For example, you can often meet the physical education prerequisite by taking bowling. Prerequisites aren't just for school: “The most called-upon prerequisite of a friend is an accessible ear,” said Maya Angelou, the American poet.
Vocabulary lists containing prerequisite
Power Prefix: pre-
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Grade 9, List 2
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The Vocabulary of College
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The first prerequisite for ending any downtrend is simple.
From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026
It is increasingly a prerequisite to also being part of a team that lands one of the game's biggest titles - the Champions League, World Cup or a continental equivalent such as the European Championship.
From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026
Seeing a show is the only prerequisite to submitting, and you might be surprised by the Hollywood star power that shows up.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026
He has long criticized the Fed’s political mission creep and understands stable prices are a prerequisite for broad-based prosperity.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 1, 2026
“The prerequisite conditions did not exist,” he shrugged and muttered.
From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
