prequel

American  

[pree-kwuhl] / ˈpri kwəl /

noun

1. a literary, dramatic, or filmic work that prefigures a later work, as by portraying the same characters at a younger age.

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prequel British  

/ ˈpriːkwəl /

noun

1. a film or book about an earlier stage of a story or a character's life, released because the later part of it has already been successful

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Etymology

Origin of prequel

First recorded in 1970–75; pre- + (se)quel

Example Sentences

“Part prequel, part re-examination,” promises PBS, which is running the show through April.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

He also recently starred in the “Yellowstone” prequel “1923” and appeared in his first Marvel movie, “Captain America: Brave New World.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 1, 2026

While giving no release date for the remakes, it unexpectedly announced a side-scrolling 2D prequel game Sons of Sparta with immediate release.

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026

Typically, prequel films are gussied up with franchise callbacks and narrative dot-connecting to distract from the fact that they’re just as cash-grabby as any old sequel.

From Salon • Jan. 4, 2026

Then there’s the new “Game of Thrones” prequel.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 31, 2025