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
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
Meanwhile, Paramount’s board faced withering pressure, with a settlement widely seen as a prerequisite for getting government approval for the company’s $8-billion sale to David Ellison’s Skydance Media, or the deal would collapse.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2025
Russia was able to put Europe on the back foot precisely because of the continent’s failure to accept that economic security — the ability to support, secure, and manage its supply chains — is a prerequisite for national security.
—Hadley Gamble, semafor.com, 17 June 2025
The 60-day notice of intent to sue is a prerequisite to filing a lawsuit under the Clean Air Act.
—Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025
The non-endorsement capped off a tumultuous approval process for the UFT, who had to drop a prerequisite for their backing that candidates spend a day teaching at the Adams administration’s behest.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for prerequisite
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.
Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2025
Russia was able to put Europe on the back foot precisely because of the continent’s failure to accept that economic security — the ability to support, secure, and manage its supply chains — is a prerequisite for national security.
—Hadley Gamble, semafor.com, 17 June 2025
The 60-day notice of intent to sue is a prerequisite to filing a lawsuit under the Clean Air Act.
—Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025
The non-endorsement capped off a tumultuous approval process for the UFT, who had to drop a prerequisite for their backing that candidates spend a day teaching at the Adams administration’s behest.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for prerequisite
Cite this Entry
“Prerequisite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prerequisite. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share