prerecorded
Americanadjective
-
recorded before being broadcast, played in an automated telephone call, made available online, etc.; not live.
The final hour of the talk show was a prerecorded interview with the book’s author.
The prerecorded phone messages were part of a campaign targeting younger voters.
-
containing previously recorded information, as music, images, software, etc..
By 1986, sales of prerecorded cassette tapes had surpassed those of LPs.
adjective
Etymology
Origin of prerecorded
Explanation
Prerecorded audio or video was taped before being broadcast later. Olympic figure skating programs are performed to prerecorded music. In contrast to a live performance, like a play or a concert, prerecorded shows were taped earlier. Most TV programs are prerecorded, with the exception of some sports broadcasts, awards shows, and special live episodes. On the other hand, you expect to hear live music at a concert — it would be disappointing to watch your favorite band mouthing the words to prerecorded songs! The prefix pre- means "before," and recorded has a Latin root meaning "repeat or remember."
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.
Huang prerecorded a video greeting that was shown at the dinner—but he skipped the chance to show up in person.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026
Employees were told the paper was closing down during an emergency staff meeting, in which a prerecorded video was played, the union said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 7, 2026
Britain's Princess Catherine and her daughter Charlotte have teamed up to perform a piano duet in a prerecorded clip for a Wednesday replay of a Christmas carol service.
From Barron's • Dec. 24, 2025
Be suspicious of robocalls, which may be phone calls that start with silence or a prerecorded message.
From MarketWatch • Nov. 10, 2025
Speaking of redundancies, think twice before using expressions like advance reservations, final conclusion, foreign import, free gift, prerecorded, refer back, or safe haven.
From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner
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.
