prerequisite

Something you must have or do before something else is possible.

• Experience is a prerequisite for this job.
• Have you met all the course prerequisites?
• Trust is a prerequisite to working well together.

How to use it: a prerequisite for something (A passport is a prerequisite for this trip.); a prerequisite to doing something (Registration is a prerequisite to joining the course.)

Similar words: requirement, precondition

Common phrases: prerequisite for something, prerequisite to something, meet a prerequisite

A subject or course you must finish before you can start another.

• This course has no prerequisite.
• Have you completed the prerequisites for advanced biology?
• Statistics was a prerequisite for her research course.

How to use it: prerequisite for something (Basic chemistry is a prerequisite for this course.)

Similar words: required course

Common phrases: course prerequisite, prerequisite for something

Needed before something else can happen or be done.

• You must complete the prerequisite course.
• She already has the prerequisite skills.
• Safety training is prerequisite to using the laboratory.

How to use it: prerequisite to something (Basic training is prerequisite to working with this equipment.)

Similar words: required, necessary

Opposites: optional

Common phrases: prerequisite knowledge, prerequisite course, prerequisite skills