noun
predecessor
PREE-dih-seh-suh
noun
1
A person who held a job, role, or position before the current person.
"The new CEO praised her predecessor for building such a strong company culture."
2
An earlier model or version of something that has since been replaced.
"The new phone is much faster than its predecessor."
How to Use Predecessor
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWhoever or whatever came before — the previous person in a role, or the earlier version of a product.
Common mistake
Don't mix up with "successor," which is the opposite — the one who comes after, not before.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
his predecessor
unlike its predecessor
predecessor company
Word Forms
predecessors plural
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The new CEO praised her _____ for building such a strong company culture.
Etymology
From Old French predecesseor, from Late Latin praedecessor, from prae- (\"before\") plus decessor, \"one who retires,\" from decedere (\"to withdraw, to die\").