prerequisite
noun
pre·req·ui·site
(ˌ)prē-ˈre-kwə-zət 
: something that is necessary to an end or to the carrying out of a function
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
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
That is a tall order for any tech company, and tools like these offered by Synopsys are practically a prerequisite to achieve those goals in the current landscape.
—Marco Chiappetta, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Booker Wines Courtesy of Booker Wines Though a picturesque tasting room is not the prerequisite for quality wines, the breathtaking estate at Booker Wines, complete with a tasting lounge and underground wine caves, is tough to resist.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 24 Mar. 2025
This initial test did not generate all of life’s prerequisites, but Meng notes that other important compounds might have been present at undetectable levels.
—Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 14 Mar. 2025
The ability to drive safely under extreme weather conditions is a fundamental prerequisite for the long-term economic success of our offering in Europe and North America.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prerequisite
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Marco Chiappetta, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Booker Wines Courtesy of Booker Wines Though a picturesque tasting room is not the prerequisite for quality wines, the breathtaking estate at Booker Wines, complete with a tasting lounge and underground wine caves, is tough to resist.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 24 Mar. 2025
This initial test did not generate all of life’s prerequisites, but Meng notes that other important compounds might have been present at undetectable levels.
—Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 14 Mar. 2025
The ability to drive safely under extreme weather conditions is a fundamental prerequisite for the long-term economic success of our offering in Europe and North America.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prerequisite
Cite this Entry
“Prerequisite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prerequisite. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prerequisite
noun
pre·req·ui·site
(ˈ)prē-ˈrek-wə-zət
: something required beforehand or necessary as preparation for something else
the course is a prerequisite for advanced study
prerequisite
adjective
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