precursor
noun
ˈprē-ˌkər-
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Precursor Has Latin Roots
With its prefix pre-, meaning "before", a precursor is literally a "forerunner", and in fact forerunner first appeared as the translation of the Latin praecursor. But the two words function a little differently today. A forerunner may simply come before another thing, but a precursor generally paves the way for something. So, for example, the Office of Strategic Services in World War II was the immediate precursor of today's Central Intelligence Agency, while the blues music of the 1930s and 1940s was only one of the precursors of the rock and roll of today.
Examples of precursor in a Sentence
Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 26 Dec. 2025
The claim is a precursor to any civil suit the families may file in the weeks ahead and county officials, among others, have to deny the claim before a formal lawsuit can be filed.
—Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 24 Dec. 2025
Tai chi Walking, jogging, or running If you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis or osteopenia (the precursor to osteoporosis), check with your healthcare provider before starting an exercise program.
—Aubrey Bailey, Verywell Health, 22 Dec. 2025
Temperament is the precursor to personality – some people are introverts, while others are extroverts.
—Angela J. Narayan, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for precursor
Cite this Entry
“Precursor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precursor. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
precursor
noun
ˈprē-ˌkər-
Medical Definition
precursor
noun
ˈprē-ˌ
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