prep

¹

[ prep ]

noun

1. preparatory school.
2. a preliminary or warm-up activity or event; trial run:

   The race is a good prep for the Kentucky Derby.

3. preparation:

   dealer prep on the car included.

4. the act of preparing a patient for a medical or surgical procedure.

adjective

1. preparatory:

   a prep school.

2. involving or used for preparation:

   the mortuary's prep room.

verb (used with object)

, prepped, prep·ping.

1. to prepare (a person) for a test, debate, etc.
2. to prepare (a patient) for a medical or surgical procedure, as by shaving and washing the skin with an antibacterial soap.
3. to prepare (a vehicle or craft) for sale, use, a test drive, or a race.
4. to prepare (something); make ready:

   You can prep the onions and peppers in advance.

verb (used without object)

, prepped, prep·ping.

1. to prepare; get ready:

   to prep for the game.

2. to attend a preparatory school.

PrEP

²

[ prep ]

noun

, Medicine/Medical.

1. pre-exposure prophylaxis: the prevention of a disease such as HIV or hepatitis A through the use of pills or vaccine, administered typically to those whose risk of contracting the disease is substantial.

prep.

³

abbreviation for

1. preparation.
2. preparatory.
3. prepare.
4. preposition.

prep

¹

/ prɛp /

noun

1. informal.
   short for preparation preparatory school

verb

1. tr to prepare (a patient) for a medical operation or procedure

prep.

²

abbreviation for

1. preparation
2. preparatory
3. preposition

Word History and Origins

Origin of prep¹

First recorded in 1860–65; by shortening

Example Sentences

He admits he may have even “peeked” at “Magic Mike” to prep for the role.

From Los Angeles Times

Rumors had swirled about the Georgia prep star looking elsewhere.

From Los Angeles Times

Coming off a long week of prep after a Thursday game and with their off week upcoming, they can go all in on a must-win game to keep their playoff hopes alive.

From Los Angeles Times

The answer is right there in the prep lab — the world’s only green dinosaur skeleton.

From Los Angeles Times

“OK,” Joshua calmly says as he preps to pronounce the oncoming words flashed before him.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• preliminary
• previous

About This Word

What else does prep mean?

Preps are people who live a preppy lifestyle, associated with young, rich, usually white men and their stereotypical fashion.

Where does prep come from?

The terms prep and preppy are shortened from preparatory school, which prepares students for higher education.

Historically, the children of America’s elite were traditionally sent away to expensive, exclusive preparatory academies, which served as feeder schools to institutions like Harvard and Yale.  Due to a push starting in the 1960s for all students to have access to education outside of the typical public school, these preparatory schools began admitting people from a more diverse socioeconomic background.

So, while the word prep no longer only refers to people who attended one of these elite schools, it does refer to individuals who identify with or are connected to the culture that resulted from preparatory school traditions. 

In the 1980s, The Official Preppy Handbook was published. It was meant to be a joke, but some took it seriously as a set of instructions on how to live the preppy lifestyle. Due to many aspects of the lifestyle carrying a hefty price tag, preps continue to be from or associated with a wealthy upbringing.

One of the biggest qualities of preppy culture is the fashion, which has been characterized as a hybrid of casual and formal attire, often from pricy retailers. Think pastel-colored khaki shorts; a tucked-in, pop-collared Polo shirt; and loafers or boat shoes worn without socks. Many stereotypically preppy activities are expensive and exclusive, too, such as rowing, sailing, or riding horses.

How is prep used in real life?

Numerous U.S. presidents attended prep schools, including Massachusetts native President John F. Kennedy, who was a graduate of Connecticut’s Choate Rosemary Hall. 

Preppy characters are also found in popular movies and TV shows, including Mad Men’s Pete Campbell and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’s Carlton Banks. The hit series Gossip Girl centered around the lives of a group of elite New York City prep school attendees.

The terms prep and preppy can be found on social media, print, and in speech. Often, the terms carry a negative connotation when used by people outside of the preppy subculture to describe people within it—though plenty of self-styled preps embrace the term. 

The stereotypical preppy aesthetic is also often trendy and fashionable in mainstream culture, especially among young men.

More examples of prep:

“Just met w/a student from San Antonio’s March for Our Lives/Students Demand Action. At her school, the “cool” preps who counterprotested their walk-out park new parent-purchased Jeeps, emblazoned w/American, Texas, Confederate, & Don’t Tread On Me flags, in ‘Jeep Row.’”
—@annehelen, August 2018

Note

This content is not meant to be a formal definition of this term. Rather, it is an informal summary that seeks to provide supplemental information and context important to know or keep in mind about the term’s history, meaning, and usage.