predecessor

noun

pre·​de·​ces·​sor ˈpre-də-ˌse-sər 

ˈprē-;

ˌpre-də-ˈse-,

ˌprē- 

1

: one that precedes

especially : a person who has previously occupied a position or office to which another has succeeded

2

archaic : ancestor

Synonyms

• ancestor
• antecedent
• archetype
• daddy
• foregoer
• forerunner
• granddaddy
• grandaddy
• precursor
• prototype

Examples of predecessor in a Sentence

Today's computers are much faster than their predecessors were.

the once-ubiquitous typewriter was the predecessor of today's electronic keyboard

Recent Examples on the Web

Biden has honored Yoon with a state visit and picked Kishida’s predecessor, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, as the first face-to-face foreign leader visit of his presidency. —Aamer Madhani, Fortune Asia, 10 Apr. 2024

Eslami’s predecessor at the AEOI, Ali Akbar Salehi, summarized the state of affairs more colorfully in a February interview, likening Iran’s nuclear program to a collection of automobile parts that only need to be assembled. —Joby Warrick, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024

While support for Greene’s effort to oust Johnson remains unclear, several Republicans who voted to remove his predecessor, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, have expressed skepticism about removing Johnson. —USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024

Abiy’s predecessors took a live-and-let-live approach, wanting to keep Sudan as an ally in light of the more strategic issue of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile. —Alex De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024

In 2020, Biden defeated his predecessor, Trump, in Arizona by less than half a percentage point. —Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 8 Apr. 2024

Choi’s predecessor as CEO, Han Seong-sook, stepped down, as did Naver’s COO, and Naver tapped Choi. —Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024

Johnson's predecessor, Kevin McCarthy, became the first speaker to be removed from the post last year. —Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024

Price’s predecessor, Nancy O’Malley, supported capital punishment but had not sought it for years by the end of her term. —Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English predecessour, from Anglo-French predecessur, from Late Latin praedecessor, from Latin prae- pre- + decessor retiring governor, from decedere to depart, retire from office — more at decease

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

predecessor

noun

pre·​de·​ces·​sor ˈpred-ə-ˌses-ər  ˈprēd- 

: one that precedes

especially : a person who has held a position or office before another

Etymology

Middle English predecessour "predecessor," from early French predecesseur (same meaning), from Latin praedecessor "one that goes before," from prae- "before, pre-," and decessor "retiring governor," from decedere "to depart," from de- "from" and cedere "to go, go away" — related to ancestor, concede