foreword

[ fawr-wurd, -werd, fohr- ]

noun

1. a short introductory statement in a published work, as a book, especially when written by someone other than the author.

foreword

/ ˈfɔːˌwɜːd /

noun

1. an introductory statement to a book

Word History and Origins

Origin of foreword¹

First recorded in 1835–45; fore- + word

Word History and Origins

Origin of foreword¹

C19: literal translation of German Vorwort

Synonym Study

See introduction.

Example Sentences

In the foreword of the last book she published before her death, Let Me Tell You What I Mean, writer Hilton Als described Didion as “a carver of words in the granite of the specific.”

From Time

This, Nobel laureates Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee note in a foreword to the report, is due to a loosening of state control and letting private wealth accumulate unabashedly.

From Quartz

Recently I was asked to write the foreword to a book of poetry written by female pilots.

From Washington Post

Combining engrossing, urgent storytelling with illustrations, personal images and a foreword by Gloria Steinem, Chicago relays the story of an artist determined to ensure that women’s cultural achievements are permanently valued.

From Time

In the foreword to her little dog-centric collection A Dog Runs Through It, poet Linda Pastan refers to one of her many dogs as “the dog of my life,” as in the love of one’s life.

From Time

Music journalist Joel Selwin annotates, with a preface by Donovan, a foreword by Jorma Kaukonen, and an afterword by John Poppy.

From The Daily Beast

In a brand new foreword to her novel that is being re-released with branding ties to the movie, Lowry discusses this.

From The Daily Beast

It is preceded by a foreword Cramer later wrote about the genesis of piece.

From The Daily Beast

Gen. Richard Dannatt, head of the British army from 2006 to 2009, wrote a foreword to the book, which is published on Monday.

From The Daily Beast

At least How to Be has a warning in its foreword: Morrissey and Juzwiak are professionals, but they are not experts.

From The Daily Beast

“Foreword” and “inwit” were good once; but “preface” and “conscience” 245 mean as much and have the advantage of being alive.

From Project Gutenberg

I read the story itself first and afterwards the preface, or foreword.

From Project Gutenberg

Idaho made a motion as if to stop him, but Graeme stepped quickly foreword and said sharply, 'Make way there, can't you?'

From Project Gutenberg

In a foreword to the readers of the New Dawn, however, a faintly ominous note was sounded.

From Project Gutenberg

The books and articles spoken of in the “Foreword” of this volume, pages 7–9, are not re-listed here.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• preamble
• preface
• prologue