Antecedents: meaning, definitions and examples

Refers to one's personal history or background, often in a more formal or academic context. It can also mean events or circumstances that precede something else.

• The company’s financial problems have antecedents that go back to its founding
• Before giving a loan, the bank investigates an applicant’s antecedents

Refers to someone who held a job or position before someone else, or to an earlier version of something. The term is often used in professional or technical contexts.

• Her predecessor left the company in good financial health
• This model of car is more efficient than its predecessor

Used when referring to someone from whom a person is descended, typically many generations back in the family tree.

• My ancestors emigrated from Ireland in the 1800s
• He researched his ancestors to learn more about his heritage

Typically used to describe someone or something that comes before another thing and indicates its approach or development. Often implies being a precursor or early example of later developments.

• The telegraph was a forerunner to the modern internet
• That style of dress is seen as a forerunner of contemporary fashion

Often used in a historical, psychological, or genealogical context to refer to events or individuals that came before and influenced the present. It typically has a more formal or academic tone.

• The historian studied the antecedents of the revolution to understand its origins.
• Her psychological antecedents include a history of anxiety in her family.

Primarily used in linguistics, philosophy, or semiotics to describe the actual object, concept, or entity that a word or phrase denotes or refers to. It is technical and specific.

• In the sentence 'The cat sat on the mat,' the word 'cat' is the referent.
• The philosopher discussed the relationship between words and their referents.

Commonly used in legal, political, or decision-making contexts to refer to an earlier event or action that is considered as an example or guide for subsequent situations. It tends to carry a formal tone.

• The court's decision set a precedent for future cases involving privacy rights.
• There is no precedent for such a large scale project in the company.