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

This preface, which harks back to “Richard II” and “Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2” in addition to the three parts of “Henry VI” that immediately precede “Richard III,” crowds an already crowded plot.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2026

“They’ll preface it with ‘I don’t know if I should get a whole bottle…since it’s just me.’

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 17, 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

Even Sebond’s work had fallen foul of the censors, not for its basic thrust, but for the extravagant claims made on behalf of it by Sebond in his preface.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Related Words

• foreword
• preamble
• prologue