prefatory

adjective

pref·​a·​to·​ry ˈpre-fə-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce prefatory (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or constituting a preface
prefatory remarks
2
: located in front

Examples of prefatory in a Sentence

The speaker made some prefatory remarks. Each chapter in the book has a prefatory quotation.
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.
The prefatory pause gives the audience a chance to applaud a starry ensemble. Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2024 Could be that fans were simply exhausted by all the prefatory ugliness that led up to Washington’s first playoff victory in 18 years, but anyone who tuned out early missed a hell of a star turn from the Commanders’ Jayden Daniels. Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Latin praefari

First Known Use

1675, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of prefatory was in 1675

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prefatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prefatory. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.

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