Antecessor is a term used to describe someone who came before or was a predecessor. Synonyms for antecessor include forerunner, precursor, ancestor, progenitor, pioneer, trailblazer, predecessor, and forebear. The term is often used in historical or genealogical contexts to describe someone who paved the way for others to come. In science, antecessor may refer to an evolutionary ancestor or a previous iteration of a technology or product. Whatever the context, antecessor and its synonyms denote a person or thing that blazed a trail, whether physically, culturally, or intellectually, making it easier for those who came after to achieve success.