without prior engagement

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "without prior engagement" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is happening or being done without any previous involvement or agreement. Example: "The company reserves the right to terminate the contract without prior engagement if the terms are not met."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

We will not withdraw investment without prior engagement.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Turnbull has a prior engagement.

The Guardian

Presumably the Muppets' Swedish Chef had a prior engagement.

The Guardian - Music

Presumably C.C. DeVille had a prior engagement on a cruise ship.

The Guardian - Sport

It would be such a nuisance to find myself with a prior engagement.

The Guardian

O.K., same setting, but no Supreme Buddha, who, let's not kid ourselves, had a prior engagement in a different millennium.

The New Yorker

If you don't want to go to any parties, you can lie quite convincingly about having a prior engagement.

The Guardian - Opinion

Corbyn's office said that he had a prior engagement but declined to say how much notice had been given to Buckingham Palace, or reveal the nature of the private engagement that meant he was unable to meet the Queen.

The Guardian

Mrs. Trump ultimately skipped Kavanaugh's swearing-in ceremony, citing a prior engagement.

Vice

These force generation events occur after a short lag time independent of any prior engagement of adhesion receptors.

Plosone

Additionally, we asked residents to recall their prior engagement in health advocacy activities.

BMC Medical Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "without prior engagement" to clearly indicate that no previous agreement, involvement, or interaction occurred. This can be crucial in legal, business, or procedural contexts where establishing the absence of prior arrangements is important.

Common error

Avoid limiting the interpretation of "engagement" to only romantic contexts. While it can refer to a romantic commitment, in this phrase, it broadly refers to any form of involvement, agreement, or arrangement. "Without prior engagement" means without any previous form of interaction or agreement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "without prior engagement" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun to indicate the absence of previous involvement or agreement. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound. Examples show it used to describe actions taken without previous arrangements.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

37%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "without prior engagement" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase that signifies the absence of previous involvement or agreement. Ludwig AI validates its proper usage. While not extremely common, it appears across various contexts, especially in news, media, and scientific writing. Related phrases include "without previous involvement" and "without advance notice". When using the phrase, remember that "engagement" refers broadly to any form of agreement or interaction, not just romantic ones. Thus, using this phrase makes it clear that no prior arrangements were made.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without previous involvement

Replaces 'prior engagement' with 'previous involvement', maintaining the meaning of no prior connection.

without advance notice

Focuses on the lack of warning before an action.

without prior agreement

Emphasizes the absence of a previous consensus.

without prior consent

Highlights the lack of permission beforehand.

without previous arrangement

Similar to 'prior engagement', but emphasizes a formal arrangement.

without prior notification

Replaces engagement with notification.

without advance preparation

Highlights the lack of preparation before an action.

without initial contact

Focuses specifically on the absence of a first interaction.

without preliminary steps

Emphasizes the absence of preparatory actions.

without proactive participation

Highlights the absence of any prior proactive action.

FAQs

How can I use "without prior engagement" in a sentence?

You can use "without prior engagement" to indicate that something is done or occurs without any prior agreement, involvement, or interaction. For example: "The company reserves the right to terminate the contract "without prior engagement" if the terms are not met."

What's a formal alternative to "without prior engagement"?

More formal alternatives include "without previous agreement", "without preliminary arrangement", or "without antecedent involvement".

Is "without prior engagement" the same as "without prior notice"?

While related, they aren't identical. "Without prior notice" emphasizes the lack of warning. "Without prior engagement" /s/without+prior+engagement emphasizes the absence of any prior connection, arrangement, or agreement. Notice is simply one form of engagement.

What does "prior engagement" mean in the context of the phrase?

In this phrase, "prior engagement" refers to any previous form of involvement, agreement, or arrangement. It is not limited to social or romantic engagements.