prerequisite
Must-have before starting
A prerequisite is something required beforehand—a condition that must be met before proceeding.
Courses have prerequisites: Calculus is a prerequisite for physics.
Jobs list prerequisites in their requirements.
The word works as both noun and adjective: prerequisite knowledge, prerequisite skills.
Prerequisites establish that certain foundations must exist before building further.
Required skill or condition
- eligibilityState of meeting criteria
- criterionStandard for judgment
- stipulationCondition in an agreement
- preconditionNecessary prior requirement
necessity · requisite · mandate · obligation · provision · condition · threshold · standard
Something that precedes
- forerunnerOne that comes before
- preconditionNecessary prior requirement
- preliminaryBefore the main part
- preamblePreliminary statement before content
prelude · introduction · lead-in · first step · gateway · predecessor · prior knowledge · intro class
Indispensable requirement
- must-haveIndispensable thing
- imperativeUnavoidably necessary
- indispensableUtterly required, irreplaceable
- vitalEssential or sustaining existence
crucial · mandatory · obligatory · non-negotiable · sine qua non · key · critical · needed
Foundational preparation for something
- basisUnderlying support or principle
- baseSupporting bottom structure
- cornerstoneFoundational building block
- bedrockSolid stone underground
underpinning · framework · footing · starting point · springboard · preparation · background · grounding
qualification
Required skill or condition
- eligibilityState of meeting criteria
- criterionStandard for judgment
- stipulationCondition in an agreement
precondition · necessity · requisite · mandate · obligation · provision · condition · threshold · standard · specification
antecedent
Something that precedes
- forerunnerOne that comes before
- preconditionNecessary prior requirement
- preliminaryBefore the main part
preamble · prelude · introduction · lead-in · first step · gateway · predecessor · prior knowledge · intro class
necessity
Indispensable requirement
- must-haveIndispensable thing
- imperativeUnavoidably necessary
- indispensableUtterly required, irreplaceable
vital · crucial · mandatory · obligatory · non-negotiable · sine qua non · key · critical · needed · fundamental
groundwork
Foundational preparation for something
- basisUnderlying support or principle
- baseSupporting bottom structure
- cornerstoneFoundational building block
bedrock · underpinning · framework · footing · starting point · springboard · preparation · background · grounding · fundamentals
- Eduspeakpedagogy, curriculum mapping, scaffolding, rubric, formative
- academicsprofessor, course, university professors, math, professors
- collegecampus, courses, application, dorms, dorm room
- college termsuniversity, community college, fall semester, spring semester, liberal arts college
- Education Termslesson plan, curriculum, syllabus, rubric, assessment
- school termsfreshman, sophomore, junior, senior, homework
prerequisiteoptional
Not mandatory
elective · voluntary · discretionary · unnecessary · nonessential
prerequisitesuperfluous
Exceeding what suffices
extra · nonessential · inessential · dispensable · supplementary
- prerequisite coursesClasses needed before advancing
- course prerequisitesMandatory preceding coursework