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
And fast, well, that’s always a prerequisite for any skill position player in an offense led by coach Mike McDaniel.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2025
Being a Gatorade Player of the Year is not a prerequisite for an athlete to be a spokesperson for Gatorade — nor does being at a school like Duke, which is one of the more than 60 NCAA schools that has a partnership with Gatorade for all of its sports.
—Jeff Fedotin, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
As a wine director or sommelier, for years, nights and weekends were prerequisites.
—Anna Lee Iijima, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
These goals are often complementary, and economists have argued that low inflation is a prerequisite for sustainable high levels of employment.
—Ana Carolina Garriga, The Conversation, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prerequisite
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David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2025
Being a Gatorade Player of the Year is not a prerequisite for an athlete to be a spokesperson for Gatorade — nor does being at a school like Duke, which is one of the more than 60 NCAA schools that has a partnership with Gatorade for all of its sports.
—Jeff Fedotin, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
As a wine director or sommelier, for years, nights and weekends were prerequisites.
—Anna Lee Iijima, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
These goals are often complementary, and economists have argued that low inflation is a prerequisite for sustainable high levels of employment.
—Ana Carolina Garriga, The Conversation, 18 Apr. 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 9 May. 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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