predecessor
Americannoun
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a person who precedes another in an office, position, etc.
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something succeeded or replaced by something else.
The new monument in the park is more beautiful than its predecessor.
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Archaic. an ancestor; forefather.
noun
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a person who precedes another, as in an office
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something that precedes something else
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an ancestor; forefather
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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; see de-, cede)
Explanation
A predecessor is something that came before the current version. The person you replaced at work is your predecessor, just like Pac Man is the predecessor of modern video games. If you break the word predecessor down to its Latin roots, you get pre, meaning "beforehand," and decessor, which means "retiring officer." So that's how we get to our definition of "someone who has held an office or position before the present holder." But predecessors aren't just found in the business world: these days predecessors include our ancestors, earlier car models, and all kinds of other forerunners.
Vocabulary lists containing predecessor
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Power Prefix: pre-
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Persepolis
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Predecessor Mauricio Pochettino was on a two-year deal and left after only one season.
From BBC • May 14, 2025
Predecessor Cherie Berry — a Republican like Dobson — pioneered the elevator inspection certificate photo, likely helping her at election time for nearly two decades.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 31, 2023
Predecessor Art Peck left after a scrapped plan to spin off Old Navy and failing to reignite sales growth.
From Washington Post • Jul. 12, 2022
Predecessor Mike Leach, the winningest coach in school history, was fired following allegations that he mistreated Adam James when the son of former SMU star Craig James had a concussion.
From Washington Times • Apr. 12, 2018
This Predecessor of ours, you see, is dressed after this manner, and his Cheeks would be no larger than mine, were he in a Hat as I am.
From The Spectator, Volume 1 Eighteenth-Century Periodical Essays by Addison, Joseph
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
