preamble

8 synonyms and 2 antonyms for preamble, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — An introductory statement placed at the start of a document, law or constitution that explains its purpose and the reasoning behind it.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

introduction opening

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

preface

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

foreword prologue preliminaries lead-in build-up

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

An introductory statement placed at the start of a document, law or constitution that explains its purpose and the reasoning behind it.

“The Preamble to the US Constitution begins "We the People".”

introduction foreword prologue preface opening

Opposites

conclusion epilogue

2. noun

Introductory remarks or delay before someone gets to the main point of what they are saying.

“She launched into the bad news without preamble.”

preliminaries lead-in build-up

How to use preamble

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

without preamble the preamble to the constitution brief preamble preamble states

Neutral. The legal-document sense is formal; "without preamble" is a common set phrase in ordinary writing.

Etymology

From Latin praeambulus "walking in front", from prae- "before" + ambulare "to walk", reaching English through Old French preambule.

Full origin of preamble →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a preamble and a preface?

A preamble is part of the document itself and usually states its purpose or guiding principles, as in a law or constitution. A preface sits outside the main work and is written about it, often explaining how the book came to be. A preamble carries legal or formal weight; a preface rarely does.

Is a preamble legally binding?

Usually not on its own. A preamble states purpose and intent rather than enforceable rules, but courts often read it to work out what the operative clauses were meant to achieve.

What does "without preamble" mean?

It means someone got straight to the point with no introduction or throat-clearing first.

People also searched

opening introduction conclusion preface prologue foreword epilogue

Nearby words

← Back to the full definition of preamble