preface

noun
UK: /ˈpref.əs/
US: /ˈpref.əs/

  1. An introduction at the beginning of a book.

    1. The preface is at the start of the book.
    2. In the preface, the author explains his reasons for writing the book.

  2. Something that comes before something else more important.

    1. The speech had a short preface to the main topic.
    2. The trial was a preface to years of political turmoil and instability.

Synonyms

introduction foreword preamble preliminary
preface transitive-verb

  1. To write or say something as an introduction.

    1. Let me preface my remarks with a quote.
    2. He prefaced his lecture by giving a brief overview of the topic.

  2. To begin something with something else.

    1. She prefaced her visit with a phone call.
    2. The company prefaced the product launch with an extensive marketing campaign.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "preface" in English means: An introduction at the beginning of a book., Something that comes before something else more important..

The phonetic transcription of "preface" is /ˈpref.əs/ in British English and /ˈpref.əs/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "preface": introduction, foreword, preamble, preliminary.

Example usage of "preface": "The preface is at the start of the book.". More examples on the page.