preface

American  

[pref-is] / ˈprɛf ɪs /

noun

• prefaces
  plural

1. a preliminary statement in a book by the book's author or editor, setting forth its purpose and scope, expressing acknowledgment of assistance from others, etc.

   Antonyms:

   appendix

2. an introductory part, as of a speech.

   Synonyms:

   prologue, preamble

   Antonyms:

   epilogue

3. something preliminary or introductory.

   The meeting was the preface to an alliance.

   Synonyms:

   prologue, preamble

   Antonyms:

   epilogue

4. Ecclesiastical. a prayer of thanksgiving, the introduction to the canon of the Mass, ending with the Sanctus.

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verb (used with object)

• prefaces,
  present (3rd person singular)
• prefaced,
  past participle,  past
• prefacing
  present participle

1. to provide with or introduce by a preface.

2. to serve as a preface to.

preface British  

/ ˈprɛfɪs /

noun

1. a statement written as an introduction to a literary or other work, typically explaining its scope, intention, method, etc; foreword

2. anything introductory

3. RC Church a prayer of thanksgiving and exhortation serving as an introduction to the canon of the Mass

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verb

1. to furnish with a preface

2. to serve as a preface to

Synonym Usage

See introduction.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• prefacer
  noun
• unprefaced
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• prefaces
  plural

Participles

• prefacing
  present
• prefaced
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• preface
  simple
• prefaces
  simple
• have prefaced
  perfect
• has prefaced
  perfect
• am prefacing
  progressive
• are prefacing
  progressive
• is prefacing
  progressive
• have been prefacing
  perfect progressive
• has been prefacing
  perfect progressive

Past

• prefaced
  simple
• had prefaced
  perfect
• was prefacing
  progressive
• were prefacing
  progressive
• had been prefacing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will preface
  simple
• will have prefaced
  perfect
• will be prefacing
  progressive
• will have been prefacing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of preface

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin prēfātia, for Latin praefātiō “a saying beforehand,” equivalent to praefāt(us) (past participle of praefārī “to say beforehand”; see pre-, fate) + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

A preface is an introduction to the main text of a book, when an author or critic can write directly to the reader. A preface often describes how a book came together, like a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the final product. The preface is a place for extra context, thoughts, or even disclaimers about the text that follows. In his preface to Lyrical Ballads, the famous poet William Wordsworth wrote, “The majority of the following poems are to be considered as experiments.” In other words, “Don’t judge me too harshly!” Preface can also be used as a verb meaning "introduce." When you preface a statement with, “No offense but... ,” the person you’re talking to braces for criticism.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

preface prefaces prefaced prefacing

In his preface, Mr. Laqueur tells us that although his mother always had a dog, it wasn’t until his early 40s that he himself loved one—the female boxer Curious.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

Aviv notes in her preface, written expressly for this book, that she has re-reported or reshaped some of the stories, paying more attention to the maternal perspective.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

As climate scientist Kevin Trenberth noted in the preface, the collection is designed as an ongoing effort that reflects the evolving nature of climate science.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 14, 2026

In her preface to “Inhabit the Poem,” she writes that the “popular belief that ‘gatekeepers’—publishers, university lecturers, anthologists, and advertisers—create the longevity of the authors we call ‘canonical’ is false.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 26, 2025

But in his preface Gilbert presents himself as sailing on a quite different ocean, an ocean of books.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

What I have recounted is what Segal called her ur-story, and some version of it prefaces every article written about her.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 18, 2026

Miranda prefaces this written statement with a short video in which she smiles brightly and seems upbeat, waving goodbye as if confirming a coffee date with a friend.

From Salon ● Jun. 6, 2024

Benedict then largely kept to his word that he would live a life of prayer in retirement, emerging only occasionally from his converted monastery for special events and writing occasional book prefaces and messages.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 31, 2022

Here, the tension was a child’s divided life due to a parent’s divorce, and the volta begins with, “But let me say ...” which prefaces the final beautiful five lines.

From New York Times ● May 5, 2022

The writers of books on insect behavior generally take pains, in their prefaces, to caution that insects are like creatures from another planet, that their behavior is absolutely foreign, totally unhuman, unearthly, almost unbiological.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas

“What I prefaced it by saying is we don’t at the moment,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

Elsewhere, pro-Palestinian demonstrations prefaced Italy's vital win over Israel and Spain took another step towards qualification with a big victory against Bulgaria.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2025

It stated unequivocally that "we did not breach NCND" and that the contact with me "was prefaced with confirmation that this conversation was not on the record".

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2025

Hopp prefaced the discussion by noting that any single survey can involve statistical flukes that make it hard to form any definitive conclusions.

From Slate ● Jun. 3, 2025

“It’s just the beginning,” I prefaced, handing her the sketch pad.

From "All American Boys" by Jason Reynolds

“I am not prone to hyperbole. I am prone to, like, popping off a little bit. I know that,” Walz said, prefacing his argument that Americans are living in a “dangerous” time.

From Salon ● Jun. 14, 2025

Channeling Nochlin, she eschews the authoritarian language of “greatness,” prefacing many of her assertions with “to me….” She has an eye for the anecdotal aside.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 3, 2023

Lesmerises asked Ferentz three questions at the end of the Ohio State news conference and, in prefacing one, pointed out that the Hawkeyes have one of the least productive offenses in the country.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 26, 2022

I was civil and specific, prefacing my list of what went wrong with the acknowledgment that the pandemic has long been a challenge for the entire industry, and holidays are never easy.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 17, 2022

Lately she’s been given to talking as if she won’t be around much longer, prefacing each plan with, “Well, if I’m still here next year, I’d love to see...”

From "The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother" by James McBride

Related Words

• foreword
• preamble
• prologue