prefab

1 of 2

adjective

pre·​fab (ˌ)prē-ˈfab How to pronounce prefab (audio)
ˈprē-ˌfab
Synonyms of prefabnext
: produced by prefabrication : prefabricated
a prefab house

prefab

2 of 2

noun

: a prefabricated structure

Examples of prefab in a Sentence

Noun The company sells hundreds of prefabs every year.
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.
Adjective
But for the most part, Appel’s latest film feels assembled from prefab cultural memory. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 27 May 2026 This is especially true if your contractor needs to maneuver a one-piece prefab shower surround through tight hallways or doorways. — Dan Simms, USA Today, 22 May 2026
Noun
That's where this truck would be happy, on the open road, stoically towing a gigantic prefab shed or a yacht. — Ezra Dyer, Popular Mechanics, 22 July 2019 Most prefabs are installed on top of a slab or strip foundation to support the structure and avoid corrosion from water. — House Beautiful, 5 Apr. 2023 See All Example Sentences for prefab

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1937, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1942, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prefab was in 1937

Rhymes for prefab

See All Rhymes for prefab

Browse Nearby Words

pref
prefab
prefabricate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prefab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prefab. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

prefab

noun
pre·​fab
(ˈ)prē-ˈfab, 
ˈprē-ˌfab
: a prefabricated structure

More from Merriam-Webster on prefab

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for prefab

Nglish: Translation of prefab for Spanish Speakers

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