1. a person who was in a particular post or job before the person who is doing it now:
• Problems he inherited from his predecessor led to the bank's later troubles.
2. a machine, system, etc that existed before another one that has developed from it:
• The new car will have a more aerodynamic shape than its popular predecessor.
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predecessor UK US /ˈpriːdɪˌsesər/ US /ˈpredəsesər/ noun [C]
► the person who had a particular job or position before someone else: »
His predecessor had left him with many problems to address in the department.
► a machine, system, law, etc. that has been replaced by a new one: »
The new model retains all the advantages of its predecessor but offers five times the speed.
Financial and business terms. 2012.