prerequisite

prerequisite — noun

IPA/ˌpriːˈrek.wɪ.zɪt/
KK[prirˈɛkwəzət]IPA/ˌpriːˈrek.wə.zɪt/
  • prerequisitesingular
  • prerequisitesplural

1. a thing — such as a skill, qualification, or condition — that someone or somethi

1.nounC1
Definition

a thing — such as a skill, qualification, or condition — that someone or something needs in order to move on to a later step or goal.

Example

A driving licence is a prerequisite for the delivery job at Maya's bakery.

a prerequisite for + noun

Sarah told the new hires that honesty is a prerequisite of working in her shop.

a prerequisite of + noun

Common collocations
  • essential prerequisite
  • basic prerequisite
  • key prerequisite
  • absolute prerequisite
  • list the prerequisites
Synonyms
  • requirement

    more general; covers any rule or need, not only things that come first

  • precondition

    near-synonym; emphasises the logical 'if not this, then not that' link

  • necessity

    stresses that the thing is unavoidable, without the 'comes before' nuance

Grammar Patterns

a prerequisite for + noun

a prerequisite of + noun

Usage Note

Almost always countable and used with the indefinite article ('a prerequisite'). Most often followed by 'for' (the goal or activity); 'of' is also common when the goal is an abstract state.

Common Mistakes

Patience is prerequisite for teaching.
Patience is a prerequisite for teaching.
a singular countable noun needs the article 'a'.
A degree is a prerequisite to apply for the job.
A degree is a prerequisite for applying for the job.
use 'for' + -ing, not 'to' + bare infinitive.

prerequisite — adjective

IPA/ˌpriːˈrekwəzɪt/
KK[prirˈɛkwəzət]IPA/ˌpriːˈrekwəzɪt/

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words point to something that must be present, but they differ in what they emphasise. 'Requirement' is the most general and everyday choice — any rule, qualification, or need can be a requirement, with no sense of order ('the only requirement is a passport'). 'Prerequisite' adds a clear 'comes before' nuance: you need it first, then you can move on; it is most at home in academic and formal contexts ('calculus is a prerequisite for physics'). 'Precondition' is closer to 'prerequisite' but feels more logical and is often used in politics or negotiation ('a ceasefire is a precondition for talks'). 'Necessity' stresses that life or a plan cannot work without the thing ('water is a necessity'), without the staged-progress idea. Pick 'prerequisite' when the order matters; 'requirement' when it does not.

prerequisite ↗requirement ↗preconditionnecessity ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • prerequisite course
  • prerequisite skill
  • prerequisite knowledge
  • prerequisite subject

Phrases

  • essential prerequisite
  • basic prerequisite
  • absolute prerequisite
  • key prerequisite
  • list the prerequisites

Prepositions

  • prerequisite for
  • prerequisite of
  • prerequisite to

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Built in early 17th-century English from the Latin prefix 'prae-' meaning 'before' plus 'requisitus', the past participle of 'requirere' meaning 'to need' or 'to ask for'. The literal sense is therefore 'asked for in advance'. The adjective use came first; the noun use, now far more common, settled in soon after, especially in academic and legal writing where the order of steps mattered.