Added 9 October 2026
prior
/ˈpɹaɪ.ə/ adjective
In Latin: prior Wiktionary
adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about prior at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
Coming before in order or time; earlier, former, previous.
His prior residence was smaller than his current one.
- More important or significant.
- Chiefly in prior probability: of the probability of an event: determined without knowledge of the occurrence of other events that bear on it, before additional data is collected.
adverb
noun
- A prior probability distribution, that is, one determined without knowledge of the occurrence of other events that bear on it, before additional data is collected. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
- In the rationalsphere: a belief supported by previous evidence or experience that one can use to make inferences about the future.
- A previous arrest or criminal conviction on someone's criminal record.
noun
-
A high-ranking member of a religious house or religious order. In an abbey, the person ranking just after the abbot, appointed as his deputy; a prior claustral.
:
-
In an abbey, the person ranking just after the abbot, appointed as his deputy; a prior claustral.
:
- The head of a priory (“a monastery which is usually a branch of an abbey”), or some other minor or smaller monastery; a prior conventual.
Origin
The adjective is a learned borrowing from Latin prior (“earlier, former, previous, prior; in front; (figurative) better, superior”), from Proto-Italic *priōs (“earlier, previous”, literally “more before”), ultimately from *pri (“before”) (from Proto-Indo-European *pró (“leading to, toward”) and its etymon *per- (“before, in front; first”)) + *-jōs (suffix forming comparative adjectives). Doublet of before, fore, and former. The adverb and noun are derived from the adjective.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)