prerequisite
noun
pre·req·ui·site
(ˌ)prē-ˈre-kwə-zət 
: something that is necessary to an end or to the carrying out of a function
Having good credit is a prerequisite to applying for a loan.
prerequisite
adjective
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.
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
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 on the Web
Number two is a clear separation of religion from state, which is a prerequisite to democracy.
—Scott Pelley, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
Now girls are logging 30 matches a season, constantly honing their skills and gaining strength – a prerequisite to merely keep pace with their contemporaries.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 2 Mar. 2026
And unfortunately, in all those cases, there are important prerequisites, the most important of which is serious organization.
—Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026
Structural competition is a prerequisite for democratic legitimacy and may help restore participation.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prerequisite
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Scott Pelley, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
Now girls are logging 30 matches a season, constantly honing their skills and gaining strength – a prerequisite to merely keep pace with their contemporaries.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 2 Mar. 2026
And unfortunately, in all those cases, there are important prerequisites, the most important of which is serious organization.
—Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026
Structural competition is a prerequisite for democratic legitimacy and may help restore participation.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prerequisite
Cite this Entry
“Prerequisite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prerequisite. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prerequisite
noun
pre·req·ui·site
(ˈ)prē-ˈrek-wə-zət
: something required beforehand or necessary as preparation for something else
the course is a prerequisite for advanced study
prerequisite
adjective
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