predecessor

American  

[pred-uh-ses-er, pred-uh-ses-er, pree-duh-ses-er] / ˈprɛd əˌsɛs ər, ˌprɛd əˈsɛs ər, ˈpri dəˌsɛs ər /

noun

1. a person who precedes another in an office, position, etc.

2. something succeeded or replaced by something else.

   The new monument in the park is more beautiful than its predecessor.

3. Archaic. an ancestor; forefather.

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predecessor British  

/ ˈpriːdɪˌsɛsə /

noun

1. a person who precedes another, as in an office

2. something that precedes something else

3. an ancestor; forefather

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Etymology

Origin of predecessor

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English predecessour, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin praedēcessor, from Latin prae- pre- + dēcessor “retiring official” (equivalent to dēcēd(ere) “to withdraw” + -tor -tor; de-, cede )

Example Sentences

Labour has been in power since the parliament's predecessor, the National Assembly for Wales, opened its doors in Cardiff Bay 27 years ago.

From BBC

In the troika of major figures in the Russian Revolution, Trotsky stood for ideas and Stalin represented power; their predecessor, Vladimir Lenin, had fused the two values as the frowning avatar of communist leadership.

From The Wall Street Journal

A launch date for Trainium 4 has yet to be disclosed, but Carroll says it will have six times the processing performance of its predecessor.

From Barron's

Perhaps the advanced AI tools only now coming to market will change behavior in a way their predecessors didn’t.

From The Wall Street Journal

Thanks to such predecessors as Cardinals Timothy Dolan, Edward Egan and John O’Connor, I am inheriting a local church that already puts faith into action in powerful ways.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• ancestor
• forebear