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

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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

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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

So wrote publisher Henry Lawson in his preface to the original 1901 edition of what has become a classic of both Australian and feminist literature, about coming of age as a writer.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

With prose so heartfelt and insightful, I was in tears by the preface.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2026

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

So I would preface with this: There are lots of wonderful things about Europe that go unnoticed, unreported, or taken for granted.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 21, 2026

First, in a rather over-generous preface, the Lynceans gave Galileo credit for discovering sunspots.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin

Then again, as the family tree that prefaces this memoir makes clear, it made no difference that the Moritz family had lived in German territory since the 18th century.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026

This is how New Orleans community organizer Malik Rahim prefaces the calm before “Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time” plunges into one of the deadliest storms in American history.

From Salon ● Jul. 25, 2025

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

The triumphant arrival of “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” prefaces what could be the strongest month for the North American box office since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2021

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

Visitors were dazzled by color-television demonstrations and the Picturephone, an early video-calling system that prefaced technologies developed decades later.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 16, 2026

Answers tend to be prefaced with the word 'we' rather than 'me'.

From BBC ● Mar. 1, 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

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

Some days, many days, only a death toll was announced, prefaced by a reiteration of the general situation.

From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri

“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

Puleio has chosen to add narration, the voice of Dion Mucciacito prefacing each piece with context and quotes from Limón.

From New York Times ● Apr. 20, 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

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Related Words

• foreword
• preamble
• prologue

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