prefrontal

1 of 2

adjective

pre·​fron·​tal (ˌ)prē-ˈfrən-tᵊl How to pronounce prefrontal (audio)
: anterior to or involving the anterior part of a frontal structure
a prefrontal bone

prefrontal

2 of 2

noun

: a prefrontal part (such as a bone)

Examples of prefrontal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
This activates prefrontal regions while reducing amygdala reactivity, creating optimal conditions for bias-free decisions. Anna Barnhill, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025 And the technology had to pick up subtle electrical activity emanating from the brain’s prefrontal lobe, the hub of reasoning, decision making, and information processing—signals that are far weaker than those generated by the heart. IEEE Spectrum, 29 May 2025
Noun
Dehaene and Changeux postulated that the workspace is instantiated by a network of pyramidal (excitatory) neurons linked to far-flung cortical regions, in particular the prefrontal, parietotemporal and midline (cingulate) associative areas. Christof Koch, Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2019 When corrected to brain size, the domesticated rabbits' amygdala's were roughly 9-10% smaller, while their medial prefrontal cortices were about 11-12% bigger. Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 27 June 2018 See All Example Sentences for prefrontal

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1851, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1851, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prefrontal was in 1851

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Cite this Entry

“Prefrontal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prefrontal. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Medical Definition

prefrontal

adjective
pre·​fron·​tal ˌprē-ˈfrənt-ᵊl How to pronounce prefrontal (audio)
1
: situated or occurring anterior to a frontal structure
a prefrontal bone
2
: of, relating to, or constituting the prefrontal lobe or prefrontal cortex of the brain
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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