Definition of "pre-" [pre-]

• Earlier; before; prior to: prehistoric. (prefix)
• Preparatory; preliminary: premedical. (prefix)
• In advance: prepay. (prefix)
• Anterior; in front of: preaxial. (prefix)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "The government is modeling the mining rules on the requirements imposed on the oil industry for the so-called pre- salt exploration, the official said."
• "Over the past decade, federal homeland-security spending above pre-Sept. 11 levels sums to $360 billion."
• "My work at the Cabrini Medical Center and Hospice pre-Sept. 11 has helped me immeasurably during these past years at the American Red Cross supporting those profoundly impacted by mass fatality disasters."