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

However, its predecessor remains our favorite fitness tracker, but this model struggles, at times. —Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 25 Nov. 2023

Buck held the position for four years and his predecessor for five. —Nick Anderson The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 25 Nov. 2023

Privacy-conscious users will be happy to know that the S8 Pro Ultra, unlike its predecessor, relies exclusively on sensors, rather than a webcam for mapping. —Chuong Nguyen, Ars Technica, 23 Nov. 2023

Its predecessor, Captain Marvel, opened to $153 million in 2019. —Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 22 Nov. 2023

His exit follows the departure of his predecessor, who left in late October after roughly three years at the startup to take a job with another company, leading Fisker to unexpectedly delay its earnings release. —Sean McLain, WSJ, 20 Nov. 2023

Mace also quoted Harry Anslinger, the first director, in 1930, of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, predecessor to the Drug Enforcement Administration. —Joe Davidson, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2023

Cecile de Jongh, wife of one of Bryan’s predecessors as governor, John de Jongh, even worked for Epstein. —Ava Benny-Morrison, Fortune, 17 Nov. 2023

And its debut was far short of its blockbuster predecessor. —Patrick Frater, Variety, 12 Nov. 2023

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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