Preamble: meaning, definitions and examples
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preamble
[ ˈpriːˌæmbl ]
legal document
A preamble is an introductory statement or preliminary section that explains the purpose or reasons for the following contents of a document. In legal documents, such as constitutions or contracts, the preamble sets the stage for the text that follows and often reflects the intent of the authors.
Synonyms
foreword, introduction, preface.
Examples of usage
- The Constitution begins with a preamble outlining its goals.
- In the preamble to the agreement, the parties expressed their mutual intentions.
- She wrote a preamble to provide context for her research paper.
Translations
Translations of the word "preamble" in other languages:
🇵🇹 preâmbulo
🇮🇳 प्रस्तावना
🇩🇪 Präambel
🇮🇩 pengantar
🇺🇦 преамбула
🇵🇱 preambuła
🇯🇵 前文
🇫🇷 préambule
🇪🇸 preámbulo
🇹🇷 önsöz
🇰🇷 서문
🇸🇦 مقدمة
🇨🇿 preambule
🇸🇰 preambula
🇨🇳 序言
🇸🇮 preambula
🇮🇸 forsíða
🇰🇿 кіріспе
🇬🇪 პრეამბულა
🇦🇿 preambula
🇲🇽 preámbulo
Etymology
The term 'preamble' originates from the Latin word 'preambulus', which means 'going before' (from 'prae-' meaning 'before' and 'ambulare' meaning 'to walk'). It was first recorded in English in the early 15th century, initially used in a legal context to refer to an introductory clause. Over time, its usage expanded to include various types of documents and formal texts, emphasizing the importance of setting context before presenting the main content. The concept of a preamble has also been historically significant, as seen in documents like the U.S. Constitution, where it delineates the purposes of the document and reflects foundational values.