prologue

noun

pro·​logue ˈprō-ˌlȯg 

-ˌläg

variants or less commonly prolog

1

: the preface or introduction to a literary work

2

a

: a speech often in verse addressed to the audience by an actor at the beginning of a play

b

: the actor speaking such a prologue

3

: an introductory or preceding event or development

Did you know?

In ancient Greek drama, the prologos (a word that means basically "speaking before") was the opening portion of the play, before the entry of the all-important chorus. It might be spoken by a single actor, maybe playing a god, who would "set the scene" for the audience. Playwrights today instead often provide the same kind of "scene-setting" information through dialogue near the play's beginning; in movies, it may appear (as in the "Star Wars" series) in the form of actual written text. In a nonfiction book, the lead-in is now usually called a preface or introduction; novels rarely provide any introduction at all. Still, prologue remains a useful word for nonliterary purposes. The saying "The past is prologue" tells us that, in real life, almost everything can be a prologue to what follows it.

Synonyms of prologue

• prelude
• preliminary

Examples of prologue in a Sentence

the prologue to his autobiography

unfortunately, the burglary, which he committed while still a teen, was but a prologue to a wasted life of crime

Recent Examples on the Web

The Triennial is typically preceded by a prologue, taking place a year before the main exhibition. —News Desk, Artforum, 10 Mar. 2026

La Fontaine’s fable runs to 44 lines; after the infernal prologue, the remaining 40 sketch the fortunes of Hell’s two daughters. —Jan Steyn, The Dial, 10 Mar. 2026

Winners will be announced in a ceremony on Friday, April 17 at USC’s Bovard Auditorium, a prologue to the 31st annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, taking place April 18-19. —Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026

Then our couple from the prologue, Billie (Isabel DeRoy-Olson) and Albert (William Hope) pull up to the trading post, looking for a map. —Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English prolog, from Anglo-French prologue, from Latin prologus preface to a play, from Greek prologos part of a Greek play preceding the entry of the chorus, from pro- before + legein to speak — more at pro-, legend

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

prologue

noun

pro·​logue ˈprō-ˌlȯg 

1

: an introduction to a book or play

2

: an act or event that comes before or introduces something