predecessor

noun

One who precedes; one who has preceded another in any state, position, office, etc.; one whom another follows or comes after, in any office or position.

A model or type of machinery or device which precedes the current (or later) one. Usually used to describe an earlier, outdated model.

(mathematics) A vertex having a directed path to another vertex

Roots

praepre- · Latin · before, in front cedo-cess · Latin · go, yield

Synonyms for predecessor

forerunnern precursorn forebearn forefathern ancestorn harbingern antecedentn

Synonyms & related words for predecessor

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of predecessor — including forerunner, precursor, forebear, forefather, ancestor, harbinger. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to predecessor

Explore words related to predecessor — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include successor, previous, former, namesake, erstwhile, primogenitor, progenitor, foretime. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for predecessor

Common synonyms for predecessor include forerunner, precursor, forebear, forefather, ancestor, harbinger, antecedent — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does predecessor come from?

The word predecessor breaks down into 2 roots of Latin origin: pre-, from Latin prae (“before, in front”); and -cess, from Latin cedo (“go, yield”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.