always used before a noun
1
: existing earlier in time : previous
prior approval
in prior years
Do you have a prior history of back problems?
The job requires prior experience in advertising.
The defendant had a prior record of convictions.
I'm sorry, but we have a prior commitment and can't come tonight.
The contract was canceled without prior notice. [=the contract was canceled right away]
2
formal
: more important than something else because it came first
We have a prior claim to the estate.
plural priors
1
a
: a monk who is the head of a religious house or order
b
: a priest whose rank is just below that of an abbot
2
US, informal
: a previous time of being arrested for or found guilty of a crime
The suspect has two priors for robbery. [=the suspect had been arrested/convicted twice before for robbery]
Cite this Entry
“Prior.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/prior. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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