Real Dictionary

prior
A prior claim or duty is more important than other claims or duties and needs to be dealt with first.
You use prior to indicate that something has already happened, or must happen, before another event takes place.

Prior in American English
Matthew1664-1721; Eng. poet
preceding in time; earlier; previous; former

prior in American English 1
adjective: preceding in time or in order; earlier or former; previous

prior in American English 2
noun: an officer in a monastic order or religious house, sometimes next in rank below an abbot

Prior in British English
noun: Matthew. 1664–1721, English poet and diplomat, noted for his epigrammatic occasional verse

prior in British English 1
adjective: previous; preceding

prior in British English 2
noun: the superior of a house and community in certain religious orders