# predecessor

/ˈpɹɛdəˌsɛsɝ/ (US) · /pɹˈiːdɪsˌɛsɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/predecessor
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. previous person in a role

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the person who had a job or position before the person who has it now.

For teachers: a person who held a specific office or position before the current holder.

- The new manager changed many of the rules that her predecessor had created.
- The incoming prime minister was careful not to openly criticise his predecessor, despite the significant policy shifts he intended to implement.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'of'.

### 2. an earlier model

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

an older version of a machine, tool, or system.

For teachers: a model or type of machinery or device that precedes the current version, often implying the earlier one is now outdated.

- This new smartphone is much faster than its predecessor.
- While the current turbine is highly efficient, its predecessor suffered from frequent mechanical failures during high-wind conditions.

### 3. graph theory

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a point in a diagram that comes before another point along a path.

For teachers: a vertex in a directed graph that has a directed path to another specific vertex.

- In this flow chart, point A is the predecessor of point B.
- The algorithm must identify every predecessor of the target node before it can calculate the shortest path through the network.

## Examples

- The new president is much more popular than his predecessor.
- The latest smartphone model is significantly faster and lighter than its predecessor, which was released last year.
- While the current administration has implemented several radical reforms, many of the underlying economic challenges were inherited from its predecessor during the previous decade of stagnation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.