prefab

1 of 2

adjective

pre·​fab (ˌ)prē-ˈfab How to pronounce prefab (audio)
ˈprē-ˌfab
: produced by prefabrication : prefabricated
a prefab house

prefab

2 of 2

noun

: a prefabricated structure

Examples of prefab in a Sentence

Noun The company sells hundreds of prefabs every year.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Instead, the settlers moved their prefab yeshiva to a small spot of what is considered state or public land and are defying the court’s order, with the fervent support of the Shomron Regional Council. Steven Erlanger Sergey Ponomarev, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2024 Several houses—prefab wood structures built on short stilts—are cracking as the land sinks and gets eroded, weakened by the melting of sea ice above and permafrost thaw below. Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 19 Dec. 2023 Huge numbers live in drab, prefab metal structures resembling shipping containers packed together in sprawling one-story box cities, where the government provides electricity and water. Nimet Kirac Nicole Tung, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2023 The first children’s splash pad, multiuse field at Veteran’s Park, prefab restrooms at Sports Park and efforts to bring pickleball courts are all underway, Aguirre said. Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Dec. 2023 The term accessory dwelling unit might evoke images of granny shacks inhabited by aging parents, sleek prefab backyard units that keep family close or converted garage rentals that offer supplemental income. Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2023 The station looks like a full-scale, prefab section of the Roman Colosseum, and the town is an elaborate facsimile of a seaside Italian city complete with a hulking bell tower, mock baroque fountains in piazzas and pseudo Roman ruins. Patrick Scott, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2023 But the government can’t offer the basics found in the aftermath of other disasters — financial aid or prefab accommodation on higher land. Chico Harlan, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2023 Thanks to exposure in magazines like Dwell (which has an entire newsletter dedicated to prefab homes), modular structures don’t have the same stigma to overcome. Sofia Jeremias, The Salt Lake Tribune, 17 Aug. 2023
Noun
Michaelo pushed back on the idea that prefabs were a radical departure from the construction business. Jon Healey, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2023 Most prefabs are installed on top of a slab or strip foundation to support the structure and avoid corrosion from water. House Beautiful, 5 Apr. 2023 Yes, Musk is now apparently living in a 375-square-foot prefab guest house in Texas. Alissa Walker, Curbed, 7 July 2021 That's where this truck would be happy, on the open road, stoically towing a gigantic prefab shed or a yacht. Ezra Dyer, Popular Mechanics, 22 July 2019 Connor Mill-Built Homes constructs prefabs with historically accurate exteriors but all the necessities of modern living. Dan Neil, WSJ, 27 June 2019 Marius Barstad, a Norwegian plastic surgeon, and his wife, Bente Eger, a sales agent for a fashion company, gave a humdrum 1970s prefab, perched on the edge of Oslo’s inner fjord, a radical makeover. J.s. Marcus, WSJ, 3 Oct. 2018 Not without drawbacks Just like every building method, prefab has its hassles. Michele Lerner, sacbee, 29 June 2018 High steel prices and a lack of practicality may have hindered them; the prefabs, like the McCormick House, would have had no attic or basement. Blair Kamin, chicagotribune.com, 8 June 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prefab.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1937, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1942, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prefab was in 1937

Dictionary Entries Near prefab

Cite this Entry

“Prefab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prefab. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

prefab

noun
pre·​fab
(ˈ)prē-ˈfab,
ˈprē-ˌfab
: a prefabricated structure

More from Merriam-Webster on prefab

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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