To pay for goods or services in advance before receiving them. Commonly used with utilities, phone services, or other subscription-based services.
Compound word formed from the prefix 'pre-' (from Latin 'prae' meaning 'before') and 'pay' (from Old French 'paier', ultimately from Latin 'pacare' meaning 'to pacify' or 'satisfy'). The concept became more common with the rise of modern service industries in the 20th century. The business model allows companies to receive cash flow before providing services.
Prepaying has become a psychological tool in modern commerce - when you prepay for something like a gym membership or phone service, you're more likely to use it because you've already invested money. It's also why gift cards are so profitable for businesses, as a significant percentage never get fully redeemed, creating 'breakage revenue.'
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.