adj · noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK:/pɹiːˈɹɛkwɪzɪt/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
US:/pɹiˈɹɛkwəzət/
US:/pɹiˈɹɛkwɪzɪt/
CMU ARPABET:P R IY0 R EH1 K W AH0 Z AH0 T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Required as a prior condition of something else; necessary or indispensable.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
The prerequisite warm-up to the match was ignored.
A good command of Spanish is prerequisite for enrolling in this course.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
Something that is required as necessary or indispensable, or as a prior condition of something else.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
A degree is a prerequisite for entry into this profession.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: requisite
3
noun
Meaning 3
A course or topic that must be completed before another course or topic can be started.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: education
Examples
Algebra is typically a prerequisite for physics.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: prereq
Antonyms: none provided
4
adjective satellite
Meaning 4
required as a prior condition or course of study
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
something that is required in advance
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
Latin was a prerequisite for admission
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: requirement
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: duty, responsibility, obligation
Narrower terms: precondition, academic requirement, essential condition, sine qua non
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per- Proto-Indo-European *preh2- Proto-Indo-European *-i Proto-Indo-European *préh2i? Proto-Italic *prai Proto-Italic *prai- Latin prae-lbor. Middle English pre- English pre- English requisite English prerequisite From pre- + requisite.
Across languages
Translations
72 source translations are retained for this English entry.