Prior

Quick meaning: Prior is an adjective meaning Coming before in order or time; earlier, former, previous.

Meaning

Coming before in order or time; earlier, former, previous.

More Meanings

1. More important or significant.
2. Chiefly followed by to: in advance, before, previously.
3. (Canada, US, law enforcement, chiefly in the plural) A previous arrest or criminal conviction on someone's criminal record.
4. (Christianity) A high-ranking member of a religious house or religious order.
5. A chief magistrate of the Republic of Florence (1115–1569) in what is now Italy.
6. (Bayesian statistics) 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.
7. (Bayesian statistics) 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.

Example Sentences

The doctor had known three months prior.

I had no prior knowledge you were coming.

His prior residence was smaller than his current one.

Lady Marney, duly warned of the impending catastrophe, was experiencing all the advantages of prior information.

Word Forms

• priors
• priour

Synonyms for prior

Depending on context, synonyms include advance, antecedent, anterior, earlier, erstwhile, ex.

Antonyms for prior

Common opposites include posterior.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include antecedent, preceding, anterior, prev, foregoing, precede.

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