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Definition of prequel

prequel

/ˈpriː.kwəl/
pre · quel
Plural:prequels
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prequel Lexical Profile

prequel Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A literary, dramatic, or cinematic work whose story precedes that of an earlier-released work, focusing on events that occur before the original narrative.

Example

"The author published a popular prequel that explored the protagonist's childhood before the events of the first novel."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for prequel

• Nearby Words

prepurchase
prequalification
prequalify
prequel
prerace
prereading
prerecord

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the mid-20th century as a blend of the prefix 'pre-' (meaning 'before') and the noun 'sequel', originally popularized in science fiction literary criticism.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Prequel. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/prequel
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