predecessor

/ˈpɹiːdɪsɛsə(ɹ)/

//ˈpɹiːdɪsɛsə(ɹ)// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"predecessor" is a 11-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“predecessor” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #9,383 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#9,383
frequency rank, English
11
letters
15
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - One who precedes; one who has preceded another in any state, position, office, etc.; one whom another follows or comes after, in any office or position.

Key facts for predecessor
PropertyValue
Headwordpredecessor
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈpɹiːdɪsɛsə(ɹ)/
Letters11
Frequency rank#9,383
Misspellings tracked15
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “predecessor” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). predecessor lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for predecessor is 11 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈpɹiːdɪsɛsə(ɹ)/. Corpus data places it at rank #9,383 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 15 likely wrong-spelling variants for predecessor, with forms such as "perdecessor", "ppredecessor", and "prdeecessor". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English predecessour, from Old French predecesseor (“forebear”), from Late Latin praedēcessor, from Latin prae- (“pre-”) + Latin dēcessor (“retiring officer”), from Latin dēcēdō (“I retire, I die”) (English decease). The correct English form is predecessor, spelled P-R-E-D-E-C-E-S-S-O-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    One who precedes; one who has preceded another in any state, position, office, etc.; one whom another follows or comes after, in any office or position.
  2. 2
    A model or type of machinery or device which precedes the current (or later) one. Usually used to describe an earlier, outdated model.
  3. 3
    A vertex having a directed path to another vertex

Etymology

From Middle English predecessour, from Old French predecesseor (“forebear”), from Late Latin praedēcessor, from Latin prae- (“pre-”) + Latin dēcessor (“retiring officer”), from Latin dēcēdō (“I retire, I die”) (English decease).

Synonyms

forerunnerforegangerancestorantecessorprecursorancientelderprecessorpredecessor

Antonyms

successor

This word in other languages

predecesor(Español)prédécesseur(Français)Vorgänger(Deutsch)antecessor(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: perdecessor,ppredecessor,prdeecessor,predceessor,preddecessor,predeccessor,predecesor,predecesosr,predecessorr,predecessro,predecsesor,predeecssor,preedcessor,prredecessor,rpedecessor

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of predecessor - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

perdecessor2ppredecessor1prdeecessor2predceessor2preddecessor1predeccessor1predecesor1predecesosr2
Edit distance from "predecessor"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "predecessor"?
"predecessor" is spelled P-R-E-D-E-C-E-S-S-O-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈpɹiːdɪsɛsə(ɹ)/.
What does "predecessor" mean?
As a noun, "predecessor" means: One who precedes; one who has preceded another in any state, position, office, etc.; one whom another follows or comes after, in any office or position.
What are common misspellings of "predecessor"?
Common misspellings include "perdecessor", "ppredecessor", "prdeecessor", "predceessor", "preddecessor". The correct spelling is "predecessor".
How do you pronounce "predecessor"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "predecessor" is /ˈpɹiːdɪsɛsə(ɹ)/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "predecessor"?
From Middle English predecessour, from Old French predecesseor (“forebear”), from Late Latin praedēcessor, from Latin prae- (“pre-”) + Latin dēcessor (“retiring officer”), from Latin dēcēdō (“I retire, I die”) (English decease). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “predecessor”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is P-R-E-D-E-C-E-S-S-O-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈpɹiːdɪsɛsə(ɹ)/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list