antecedent

1 of 2

noun

an·​te·​ced·​ent ˌan-tə-ˈsē-dᵊnt 

plural antecedents

1

grammar : a substantive word, phrase, or clause whose denotation is referred to by a pronoun that typically follows the substantive (such as John in "Mary saw John and called to him")

broadly : a word or phrase replaced by a substitute

2

a

: a preceding event, condition, or cause

events that were antecedents of the war

b

antecedents plural : the significant events, conditions, and traits of one's earlier life

3

a

: predecessor

especially : a model or stimulus for later developments

The sackbut was the antecedent of the trombone.

b

antecedents plural : ancestors, parents

He was proud of his Scottish antecedents.

4

: the conditional element in a proposition (such as if A in "if A, then B")

5

mathematics : the first term of a mathematical ratio

antecedent

2 of 2

adjective

: prior

antecedent events

antecedently adverb

Did you know?

A basic principle of clear writing is to keep your antecedents clear. Pronouns are often used in order not to repeat a noun (so instead of saying "Sheila turns 22 tomorrow, and Sheila is having a party", we replace the second "Sheila" with "she"). But sloppy writers sometimes leave their antecedents unclear (for instance, "Sheila helps Kathleen out, but she doesn't appreciate it", where it isn't clear who "she" is). Watch out for this possible problem when using not just he and she but also they, them, it, this, *and *that. And keep in mind that antecedent isn't just a grammar term. You may talk about the antecedents of heart disease (such as bad eating habits), the antecedents of World War II (such as the unwise Treaty of Versailles), and even your own antecedents (your mother, grandfather, etc.).

Synonyms

Noun

• causality
• causation
• cause
• occasion
• reason

Adjective

• anterior
• foregoing
• former
• precedent
• preceding
• previous
• prior

Choose the Right Synonym for antecedent

preceding, antecedent, foregoing, previous, prior, former, anterior mean being before.

preceding usually implies being immediately before in time or in place.

the preceding sentence

antecedent applies to order in time and may suggest a causal relation.

conditions antecedent to the revolution

foregoing applies chiefly to statements.

the foregoing remarks

previous and prior imply existing or occurring earlier, but prior often adds an implication of greater importance.

a child from a previous marriage

a prior obligation

former implies always a definite comparison or contrast with something that is latter.

the former name of the company

anterior applies to position before or ahead of usually in space, sometimes in time or order.

the anterior lobe of the brain

Examples of antecedent in a Sentence

Noun

“John” is the antecedent of the pronoun “him” in “Mary saw John and thanked him.”

what are the antecedents of the American Revolutionary War?

Adjective

I'd like to follow up on an antecedent question from another reporter.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Yet critics and journalists can longer trace its antecedents to An American in Paris, Bonjour Tristesse and Breathless, thus proving our detachment from our Western moral foundations. —Armond White, National Review, 28 Mar. 2025

The Free Speech League, an antecedent of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), didn’t succeed in its goal—the Comstock Act is still in effect, though it’s been amended several times and court rulings have diminished its scope. —Sarah Prager, JSTOR Daily, 12 Mar. 2025

Adjective

The realities of holding on to a job or keeping a company alive supersede any antecedent personal ethics. —Sachin H. Jain, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025

Responsible purchasing is antecedent to fair and equitable decarbonization in the supply chain. —Hakan Karaosman, Sourcing Journal, 17 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

Middle English, from Medieval Latin & Latin; Medieval Latin antecedent-, antecedens, from Latin, what precedes, from neuter of antecedent-, antecedens, present participle of antecedere to go before, from ante- + cedere to go

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for antecedent

• precedent

Kids Definition

antecedent

1 of 2 noun

an·​te·​ced·​ent ˌant-ə-ˈsēd-ənt 

1

: a noun, pronoun, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun

in "the house that we live in," "house" is the antecedent of "that"

2

: an event or cause coming before something

3

plural : one's ancestors or parents

antecedent

2 of 2 adjective

: coming earlier in time or order

antecedently adverb

Legal Definition

antecedent

adjective

an·​te·​ce·​dent

ˌan-tə-ˈsēd-ᵊnt

: earlier in time or order