preamble
PREE-am-bul · noun
An introductory statement explaining the purpose or principles of what follows.
Memory connection
Picture “pre-ramble”
Before a debate begins, the moderator takes a brief pre-ramble to explain its purpose, rules, and guiding principles.
The sound cue helps you reach the scene; the action in the scene carries you from the scene to the definition.
Use it accurately
Meaning in context
The charter’s preamble states the organization’s central aims.
After a long preamble, the speaker finally announced the proposal.
Preamble commonly names the formal introduction to a constitution, statute, agreement, or speech. Informally, it can mean preliminary remarks.
Common patterns
- the preamble to
- a lengthy preamble
- without preamble
Quick check
Can you retrieve the meaning?
Where would a preamble appear?
Choose an answer, then explain it in your own words.