Predecessor

Definition

Predecessor refers to a person who held a position or office before another person, or something that comes before another in time, order, or position.

Parts of Speech

• Noun

Pronunciation

Etymology

The term "predecessor" is derived from the Latin "praedecessor", where "prae-" means "before" and "decessor" is from "decēdere", meaning "to go away, depart".

Derivatives

• Predecessorship
• Predecease
• Precedent
• Precedence
• Preceding

Synonyms

• Forerunner
• Antecedent
• Precursor

Antonyms

• Successor
• Descendant
• Heir

Usage

"Predecessor" is often used to refer to someone who held a particular office or position before the current holder. It can also describe a product, model, or version that came before the current one, especially in technology and manufacturing contexts.

Related Terms

• Ancestor
• Forebear
• Progenitor
• Heritage
• Legacy

Detailed Definition

Noun

• A person who held a job or position before the current holder.
• Example: "The new CEO is very different from her predecessor."

• Something that has been replaced or succeeded by something else.
• Example: "The new software has several improvements over its predecessor."

• A thing that comes before another of the same kind.
• Example: "The prototype was a predecessor to the final product."