WordValeprefabricated
manufactured in sections for on-site assembly
In more detail
1. (adjective) made in a factory in parts or sections that can be quickly assembled in another location
2. (adjective) made or constructed before being needed, without much thought or originality
Examples
- 1. The company builds prefabricated houses that can be assembled on-site in just a few weeks.
- 2. The politician's speech was full of prefabricated phrases that didn't sound genuine.
How to use prefabricated
Prefabricated primarily describes buildings or their parts made in factories for quick assembly, emphasizing efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The second sense—lacking originality—is less common but appears when criticizing unoriginal ideas or responses as seeming mass-produced and thoughtless. It sits between factory-made (purely manufacturing) and ready-made (general availability).
Common phrases
- prefabricated housing
- prefabricated homes
- prefabricated components
- prefabricated building
- prefabricated structure
- prefabricated sections
Synonyms
prefab · factory-made · modular · ready-made · mass-produced
Opposites
bespoke · custom-built · handmade
Word family
prefab (noun/adjective) · prefabricate (verb) · prefabrication (noun)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use prefabricated when they mean simply 'pre-made' or 'prepared in advance'; the word specifically implies factory assembly of parts, not just advance preparation.
Save this word in WordVale and it comes back for review right before you'd forget it — with pronunciation, real examples, and optional translations. One purchase, no subscription.
Get WordValeFREE 7-DAY TRIAL · iPHONE & iPAD