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Synonyms

prerequisite

American  
[pri-rek-wuh-zit, pree-] / prɪˈrɛk wə zɪt, pri- /

adjective

  1. required beforehand.

    a prerequisite fund of knowledge.

noun

  1. something prerequisite.

    A visa is still a prerequisite for travel in many countries.
    Synonyms:
    precondition, essential, requisite, requirement
prerequisite British  
/ priːˈrɛkwɪzɪt /

adjective

  1. required as a prior condition

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. something required as a prior condition

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of prerequisite

First recorded in 1625–35; pre- + requisite

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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.

Seeing a show is the only prerequisite to submitting, and you might be surprised by the Hollywood star power that shows up.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

As companies chase these shoppers, recognizable intellectual property has become a prerequisite.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026

Today, earning at least six figures has become a prerequisite for most home buyers in the U.S.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 31, 2026

In U.S. politics, authenticity is treated as a prerequisite, despite it never really being defined.

From Salon • Jan. 21, 2026

This new consensus must begin with dialogue, a conversation that fosters a critical consciousness, a key prerequisite to effective social action.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

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.