Definition of prerequisite
: something that is necessary to an end or to the carrying out of a function
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Examples of prerequisite in a Sentence
- Future greatness does not always inspire popularity. Coolness, in the high-school or hip sense of the word, is not a prerequisite for leadership. —Evan Thomas, Newsweek, 2 Aug. 2004
- … opposition to the totalitarian threat was the prerequisite for membership in American liberalism because communism was the defining moral challenge of the age. —Peter Beinart, New Republic, 13 Dec. 2004
- But old-school Andy lacks a skill that may soon be a prerequisite for 21st-century detective work: knowing how to glean secrets from a suspect's hard drive. —Daniel McGinn, Newsweek, 23 Sept. 2002
Recent Examples of prerequisite from the Web
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Virtually all students majoring in science, engineering and health fields require chemistry courses as prerequisites to courses in their major, university officials have said.
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But conditions that clearly favor life here—liquid water, surface oxygen, ozone in the stratosphere, possibly a magnetic field—may not necessarily be prerequisites for its development elsewhere.
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The court is viewed by world powers as a vital prerequisite for regional reconciliation in the aftermath of the bloody Balkan wars of the 1990s.
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Although drinking alcohol does not always lead to violence and is not a prerequisite for violence to occur, the link between alcohol and violence is undeniable.
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The prerequisite: Have something to say Truth is, there are already entirely too many podcasts.
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The news came as a mild surprise to many in Washington, since to date, alleged misappropriation of taxpayer funds for personal travel has been presumed to be a prerequisite for service in the Trump administration, not a disqualifier.
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According to former officials of several campaigns, hiring Cambridge Analytica came to be seen as almost a prerequisite for candidates seeking the Mercers’ support.
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However, with Hawking and his limited ability to communicate, this was a prerequisite.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'prerequisite.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
Prerequisite is partly based on requirere, the Latin verb meaning "to need or require". So a prerequisite can be anything that must be accomplished or acquired before something else can be done. Possessing a valid credit card is a prerequisite for renting a car. A physical exam may be a prerequisite for receiving a life-insurance policy. And successful completion of an introductory course is often a prerequisite for enrolling in a higher-level course.
First Known Use of prerequisite
circa 1631
PREREQUISITE Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of prerequisite for English Language Learners
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: something that you officially must have or do before you can have or do something else
PREREQUISITE Defined for Kids
Definition of prerequisite for Students
: something that is needed beforehand : requirement
- Citizenship is a prerequisite for voting.
Learn More about prerequisite
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Spanish Central: Translation of prerequisite Nglish: Translation of prerequisite for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of prerequisite for Arabic speakers
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