prerequisite

noun

pre·​req·​ui·​site (ˌ)prē-ˈre-kwə-zət How to pronounce prerequisite (audio)
Synonyms of prerequisite
: something that is necessary to an end or to the carrying out of a function
Having good credit is a prerequisite to applying for a loan.
prerequisite adjective

Did you know?

Prerequisite is partly based on requirere, the Latin verb meaning "to need or require". So a prerequisite can be anything that must be accomplished or acquired before something else can be done. Possessing a valid credit card is a prerequisite for renting a car. A physical exam may be a prerequisite for receiving a life-insurance policy. And successful completion of an introductory course is often a prerequisite for enrolling in a higher-level course.

Examples of prerequisite in a Sentence

Future greatness does not always inspire popularity. Coolness, in the high-school or hip sense of the word, is not a prerequisite for leadership. —Evan Thomas, Newsweek, 2 Aug. 2004
… opposition to the totalitarian threat was the prerequisite for membership in American liberalism because communism was the defining moral challenge of the age. —Peter Beinart, New Republic, 13 Dec. 2004
But old-school Andy lacks a skill that may soon be a prerequisite for 21st-century detective work: knowing how to glean secrets from a suspect's hard drive. —Daniel McGinn, Newsweek, 23 Sept. 2002
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In this sense, next-generation broadband functions like electricity once did for hospitals and clinics—the quiet prerequisite that allows healthier choices and earlier intervention to take hold. — Tanya Akim, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 In passenger aircraft, where weight limitations prevent heavy armor and emergency landings are far more complex than pulling over to the side of the road, preventing this cascading fire risk is the ultimate prerequisite for commercial flight safety. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026 This presents a bit of a problem for Murphy, for whom the prepackaged spectacle of political incident has become almost a prerequisite for entertaining television. — Leo Lasdun, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026 In the United States, steady, well-paying blue-collar jobs have been all but decimated, and fewer men than women are earning the college degrees that have become almost a prerequisite for financial stability. — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prerequisite

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1631, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prerequisite was circa 1631

Rhymes for prerequisite

See All Rhymes for prerequisite

Browse Nearby Words

prerelease
prerequisite
preresolve
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Cite this Entry

“Prerequisite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prerequisite. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

prerequisite

noun
pre·​req·​ui·​site (ˈ)prē-ˈrek-wə-zət How to pronounce prerequisite (audio)
: something required beforehand or necessary as preparation for something else
the course is a prerequisite for advanced study
prerequisite adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on prerequisite

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for prerequisite

Nglish: Translation of prerequisite for Spanish Speakers

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