Word
prepaid
Phoneticspre·paid
US/pɹiˈpeɪd/
UK/pɹɪpˈeɪd/
Definition
adj. paid for in advance, before you actually use the service or get the item.
adj. relating to a service or item for which payment is made in advance of its use or receipt. Often used to describe telecommunications or shipping services.
Examples
“I have a prepaid phone card for my trip.”
“The courier service requires a prepaid label to be attached to the package before they will collect it from the office.”
“While contract plans offer lower per-minute rates, many users prefer prepaid options to maintain strict control over their monthly expenditures and avoid unexpected roaming charges.”
Examples
simple
“I have a prepaid phone card for my trip.”
contextual
“The courier service requires a prepaid label to be attached to the package before they will collect it from the office.”
complex
“While contract plans offer lower per-minute rates, many users prefer prepaid options to maintain strict control over their monthly expenditures and avoid unexpected roaming charges.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun; often contrasted with 'postpaid' or 'contract-based' services.
Pitfall
I have a phone prepaid
I have a prepaid phone
As an adjective, it must precede the noun it modifies rather than following it.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/prepaid