prerequisite

C2+ Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /priˈrɛkwəzət/ UK /ˌpriːˈrɛkwɪzɪt/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
a thing required as a prior condition for something else

Basic algebra is a prerequisite for this course.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a thing required as a prior... precondition requirement necessityprerequirementessential precursor

Opposites

corequisite

Word family

Related forms requisite require requisition

Etymology

From the prefix pre- ('before') + requisite (from Latin requisitus, past participle of requirere 'to require, seek', from re- + quaerere 'to seek').

prae- Latin requirere Latin quaerere Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas

External links

# prerequisite

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /priˈrɛkwəzət/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌpriːˈrɛkwɪzɪt/

## Meanings
1. a thing required as a prior condition for something else

## Examples
- Basic algebra is a prerequisite for this course.

## Synonyms
- precondition
- requirement
- necessity
- prerequirement
- essential
- precursor

## Antonyms
- corequisite

## Related Forms
- requisite
- require
- requisition

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: prae-
- Root: requirere
- Root: quaerere

## Etymology
From the prefix pre- ('before') + requisite (from Latin requisitus, past participle of requirere 'to require, seek', from re- + quaerere 'to seek').

## AI Etymology
Prerequisite is from the prefix pre- ('before') + requisite (from Latin requisitus, past participle of requirere 'to require, seek', from re- + quaerere 'to seek'). Important recorded forms include prae- (Latin), requirere (Latin), and quaerere (Latin). Morphologically, the word is a built form whose named elements carry part of the historical sense. The current sense covers a thing required as a prior condition for something else. The wider family includes related words such as requisite, require, and requisition.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas

markdown