prefatory
adjective
pref·a·to·ry
ˈpre-fə-ˌtȯr-ē 
1
: of, relating to, or constituting a preface
prefatory remarks
2
: located in front
Examples of prefatory in a Sentence
The speaker made some prefatory remarks.
Each chapter in the book has a prefatory quotation.
Recent Examples on the Web
The prefatory pause gives the audience a chance to applaud a starry ensemble.
—
Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2024
Could be that fans were simply exhausted by all the prefatory ugliness that led up to Washington’s first playoff victory in 18 years, but anyone who tuned out early missed a hell of a star turn from the Commanders’ Jayden Daniels.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2019
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Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2024
Could be that fans were simply exhausted by all the prefatory ugliness that led up to Washington’s first playoff victory in 18 years, but anyone who tuned out early missed a hell of a star turn from the Commanders’ Jayden Daniels.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Prefatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prefatory. Accessed 31 Jul. 2025.
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