preexistence

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pre•ex•ist  (prē′ig zist′), v.i. 

1. to exist beforehand.
2. to exist in a previous state.

v.t. 

3. to exist prior to (something or someone else);
   precede:
   primitive artifacts that preexisted sophisticated tools.

Also, pre′-ex•ist′. 

• pre- + exist 1590–1600

pre′ex•ist′ence, n. 
pre′ex•ist′ent, adj.