What does "prior" mean?
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.
Prior
/ˈpɹaɪ.ə/ adj, adv, name, noun
adj, adv, name, noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: 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.
- Grammar: prior is listed as adj, adv, name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: abbot, advance, ahead, ancient.
- Useful contrasts: additional tests, adjacent, consequent.
- Usage evidence: This happened prior to receiving your letter.
How to use "prior"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "prior" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
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- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "prior" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "prior" is acting as adj, adv, name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
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3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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Definitions
Noun
- 1 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.
- 2 A high-ranking member of a religious house or religious order.; In an abbey, the person ranking just after the abbot, appointed as his deputy; a prior claustral.
"It is not yet an hundred yere a goe, ſince that ſame mayſter doctour was butler in the ſame houſe, whereof I was maiſter and praiour: […]"
- 3 the head of a religious order; in an abbey the prior is next below the abbot wordnet
- 4 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.; In the rationalsphere: a belief supported by previous evidence or experience that one can use to make inferences about the future. broadly
"During each of these touchpoints, I'm asking myself where and how my thesis on each holding could be wrong. I'm checking each data point as it comes in against my priors. I'm comparing management behavior to what I would be doing if I were in their shoes."
- 5 A high-ranking member of a religious house or religious order.; The head of a priory (“a monastery which is usually a branch of an abbey”), or some other minor or smaller monastery; a prior conventual.
Show 8 more definitions
- 6 A previous arrest or criminal conviction on someone's criminal record. Canada, US, in-plural
"And a little later we get the routine report on his prints from Washington, and he's got a prior back in Indiana, attempted hold-up six years ago."
- 7 A high-ranking member of a religious house or religious order.; The head friar of a house of friars.
- 8 A high-ranking member of a religious house or religious order.; The head of the Arrouaisian, Augustinian, and formerly Premonstratensian religious orders.
- 9 A high-ranking member of a religious house or religious order.; An honorary position held by a priest in some cathedrals.
"[I]t hath appertained to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York for the space of four hundred years or thereabouts to have spiritual jurisdiction over all your Grace's subjects dwelling within the provinces; […] in the meantime of vacation the same privilege resteth in the churches of Canterbury and York; and is executed by the prior, dean and chapter of the said churches; […]"
- 10 A chief magistrate of the Republic of Florence (1115–1569) in what is now Italy. historical
"[F]irſt of all among themſelves of the ancienteſt they chuſe three heads or chiefs vvhich they call Priors; and alſo of the youngeſt among them they chuſe tvvo vvho perform the office of Secretaries. The Priors ſit dovvn, having before them a table upon vvhich are placed tvvo balloting boxes of that ſort that are uſed in the Great Council; in one of vvhich are put 40 balls, marked vvith a certain mark, that no deceit may be uſed. The reſt of the 41 ſit alſo dovvn, each vvhere he pleaſes. […] Then they are called one by one before the three Priors, and each one vvrites in his Schedule the name of him vvhom he vvould have to be Duke, and leaves it upon the table."
- 11 The elected head of a guild of craftsmen or merchants in some countries in Europe and South America. historical
- 12 A person who is the earliest or most prominent in a field; the chief. obsolete
- 13 The head of a company. obsolete
Adjective
- 1 Coming before in order or time; earlier, former, previous. not-comparable
"His prior residence was smaller than his current one."
- 2 More important or significant. not-comparable
- 3 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. not-comparable
Adjective
- 1 earlier in time wordnet
Adverb
- 1 Chiefly followed by to: in advance, before, previously.
"The doctor had known three months prior."
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname originating as an occupation for someone employed by a prior.
- 2 An unincorporated community in Douglas County, Missouri, United States.
Antonyms
Example
"This happened prior to receiving your letter."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "prior"?
Common synonyms include: abbot, advance, ahead, ancient, antecedent, anterior.
How do you use "prior" in a sentence?
This happened prior to receiving your letter.
How do you pronounce "prior"?
Pronounced /ˈpɹaɪ.ə/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
The adjective is a learned borrowing from Latin prior (“earlier, former, previous, prior; in front; (figurative) better, superior”), from Proto-Italic *priōs (“earlier, previous”, literally “more before”), ultimately from *pri (“before”) (from Proto-Indo-European *pró (“leading to, toward”) and its etymon *per- (“before, in front; first”)) + *-jōs (suffix forming comparative adjectives). Doublet of before, fore, and former. The adverb and noun are derived from the adjective.
Etymology 2
From Middle English priour, prior (“head or deputy head of a monastery or other religious house; predecessor; superior”), from Old English prior, from Anglo-Norman priour, prior, priur, and Old French prior, priur (modern French prieur), and directly from their etymon Latin prior (“ancestor; predecessor”) (whence Late Latin prior (“superior of a religious house or order; abbot; deputy abbot; head of a guild”)), a noun use of prior (“former, previous, prior”, adjective): see etymology 1.
Etymology 3
From Middle English Prior, Priur (surname), from Middle English prior, priour (“prior”). More at prior.