prerequisite
noun
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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
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
William Mullane, USA TODAY, 25 Sep. 2024
So talent is no longer a prerequisite to construct a great song.
—Erielle Delzer, CBS News, 24 Sep. 2024
One of the key prerequisites for Burton was getting original cast members Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara back on board.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 20 Sep. 2024
In the West, advocating for Russia’s defeat is a prerequisite for entry into mainstream intellectual and public life.
—Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prerequisite 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prerequisite.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near prerequisite
Cite this Entry
“Prerequisite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prerequisite. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024.
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prerequisite
noun
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