exordium

noun

eg-ˈzȯr-dē-əm How to pronounce exordium (audio)
Definition of exordiumnext
as in preface
a short section (as of a book) that leads to or explains the main part in his exordium the author warns his readers that they should expect a radically different interpretation of the causes of the war

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for exordium
  1. preface
  2. introduction
  3. foreword
  4. prologue
Noun
  • The book, published by Phaidon, features a preface by Andrea Gaudenzi, chairman of the ATP, a foreword by former player Rod Laver and text by tennis writer Mark Hodgkinson.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Li offers hints of how Field and Adelaide’s destiny came to pass, with a preface and short flash-forward scenes that striate the narrative.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of preface
Noun
  • Watkins got the crowd going in pregame introductions and then with a buzzer-beating pull-up jumper from 15 feet to end the first quarter with USC leading 36-11.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2026
  • With the introduction of this year’s College Football Playoff committee rankings last week, the weekly Associated Press college football poll has now taken somewhat of a backseat.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of introduction
Noun
  • The book, published by Phaidon, features a preface by Andrea Gaudenzi, chairman of the ATP, a foreword by former player Rod Laver and text by tennis writer Mark Hodgkinson.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Sonny Rollins, who died the month before the volume came out, and Kurt Elling contribute forewords and afterwords.
    — Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of foreword
Noun
  • In a brief yet crucial prologue, 10-year-old Kasumi and her parents set out on a countryside camping trip.
    — James Marsh, Variety, 29 Oct. 2026
  • All of which was the prologue to Wednesday’s reminder of something else yet that’s special about Mahomes.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of prologue
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Exordium.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exordium. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

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