preface
Americannoun
-
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
-
an introductory part, as of a speech.
- Antonyms:
- epilogue
-
something preliminary or introductory.
The meeting was the preface to an alliance.
- Antonyms:
- epilogue
-
Ecclesiastical. a prayer of thanksgiving, the introduction to the canon of the Mass, ending with the Sanctus.
verb (used with object)
-
to provide with or introduce by a preface.
-
to serve as a preface to.
noun
-
a statement written as an introduction to a literary or other work, typically explaining its scope, intention, method, etc; foreword
-
anything introductory
-
RC Church a prayer of thanksgiving and exhortation serving as an introduction to the canon of the Mass
verb
-
to furnish with a preface
-
to serve as a preface to
Related Words
See introduction.
Other Word Forms
- prefacer noun
- unprefaced adjective
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”; pre-, fate ) + -iōn- -ion
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.
“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
It’s not my habit to preface my columns with “trigger alerts,” so this is a first:
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 14, 2025
On Friday, before introducing Edgardo Henriquez, Leitz delivered a proper preface and farewell all in one.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 20, 2025
Osiander’s preface certainly didn’t soothe the Lutherans, and the book was roundly condemned by the European protestant movement.
From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin
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.
