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

Recent Examples on the Web

Additionally, nursing schools need to continue recruiting and positioning more male faculty to teach in prerequisite courses and engage with male students early on in their training. —Nicholas A. Giordano, STAT, 8 May 2026

The most urgent prerequisite is the political will to protect the Climate Equity Fund from budget raids, as happened in 2024. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026

Fluency in artificial intelligence is increasingly a prerequisite in today's labor market, with employers across industries seeking AI-literate job candidates. —Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 6 May 2026

And Angela Morrison of Cakes by Angela Morrison rounds out the five—a reminder that solopreneurship has no industry requirements, no tech prerequisites, and no ceiling. —Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 3 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1631, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for prerequisite

• requisite

Kids 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