prefabricate

verb

pre·​fab·​ri·​cate (ˌ)prē-ˈfa-bri-ˌkāt How to pronounce prefabricate (audio)
prefabricated; prefabricating; prefabricates

transitive verb

1
: to fabricate the parts of at a factory so that construction consists mainly of assembling and uniting standardized parts
2
: to produce artificially
prefabrication noun

Examples of prefabricate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The lodges are simple and prefabricated — no permanent new structures are allowed in the nature reserve — but well designed and positioned to make the most of mountain views. Sarah Moss, Travel + Leisure, 2 June 2023 For example, mobile homes and prefabricated homes are not anchored to the ground. Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 13 May 2023 Those include discussions of purchasing prefabricated tiny homes or repurposing modular buildings owned by the school district, expediting client intakes for public assistance programs, and drafting a resolution requesting financial help from the state. Zachariah Hughes, Anchorage Daily News, 20 Apr. 2023 The pieces are prefabricated within the space of two weeks. Kimberley Mok, Treehugger, 20 Apr. 2023 Walmart comes next, and then a few plants making building materials and prefabricated housing, several social service organizations and the county government. Lydia Depillis, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2023 By Janet Eastman | The Oregonian/OregonLive A century before modular homes were prefabricated in factories, people could order a kit home through the Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalog or from a company such as Aladdin Homes, which had a factory in North Portland’s Kenton neighborhood. Jeastman, oregonlive, 15 Mar. 2023 Recently, Nury found one of Prouvé’s prefabricated 6 x 6 houses, from 1944, which will remain disassembled in a warehouse until, someday, a client chooses it for a special event. Kurt Soller David Chow, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2023 Walmart comes next, and then a few plants making building materials and prefabricated housing, several social service organizations, and the county government. Lydia Depillis, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prefabricate.' 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

1932, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of prefabricate was in 1932

Dictionary Entries Near prefabricate

Cite this Entry

“Prefabricate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prefabricate. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

prefabricate

verb
pre·​fab·​ri·​cate (ˈ)prē-ˈfab-ri-ˌkāt How to pronounce prefabricate (audio)
: to manufacture the parts of something beforehand so that it can be built by putting the parts together
prefabrication noun

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