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.
That spirit of creation—the one prerequisite of really making something new—pulses through every note. — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026 For several decades, it's almost been a prerequisite for the NBA's best players to don the Purple and Gold at some point in their careers. — Austin Turner, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026 That straightforward approach to his music and presentation has cost him in terms of the aura and mystique often treated as a prerequisite for a rap star, but is a reflection of the perspective and inner peace he’s gained and documented in his work. — Preezy Brown, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2026 The perfecting statement and requested cure The notice must explicitly state that it is served to fulfill the procedural prerequisite for pursuing the statutory civil remedy. — Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 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

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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 27 Oct. 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

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