predecessor
noun
pre·de·ces·sor
ˈpre-də-ˌse-sər 
ˈprē-;
ˌpre-də-ˈse-,
ˌprē-
1
: one that precedes
especially
: a person who has previously occupied a position or office to which another has succeeded
2
archaic
: ancestor
Examples of predecessor in a Sentence
Today's computers are much faster than their predecessors were.
the once-ubiquitous typewriter was the predecessor of today's electronic keyboard
Recent Examples on the Web
Segura’s predecessor, Dana Tomarken, was abruptly fired in April of 2018 after 25 years with the Academy, resulting in her filing a wrongful-termination lawsuit against the Academy.
—
Jem Aswad, Variety, 27 May 2025
Read more: The Meaning of Germany’s Dramatic Rearmament The shift marks a departure from Merz’s predecessor, Olaf Scholz, who had resisted sending long-range weaponry to Ukraine, citing fears of Russian escalation.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 27 May 2025
Trump has repeatedly sought to blame his predecessor for inflation.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 May 2025
The reality was that Carter just continued foreign policies initiated by his predecessor Richard Nixon to split China away from the Soviet Union.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 25 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for predecessor
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Jem Aswad, Variety, 27 May 2025
Read more: The Meaning of Germany’s Dramatic Rearmament The shift marks a departure from Merz’s predecessor, Olaf Scholz, who had resisted sending long-range weaponry to Ukraine, citing fears of Russian escalation.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 27 May 2025
Trump has repeatedly sought to blame his predecessor for inflation.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 May 2025
The reality was that Carter just continued foreign policies initiated by his predecessor Richard Nixon to split China away from the Soviet Union.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 25 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for predecessor
Cite this Entry
“Predecessor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/predecessor. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
predecessor
noun
pre·de·ces·sor
ˈpred-ə-ˌses-ər
ˈprēd-
ˈprēd-
: one that precedes
especially
: a person who has held a position or office before another
Etymology
Middle English predecessour "predecessor," from early French predecesseur (same meaning), from Latin praedecessor "one that goes before," from prae- "before, pre-," and decessor "retiring governor," from decedere "to depart," from de- "from" and cedere "to go, go away" — related to ancestor, concede
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