front matter
noun Printing.
all material in a book that precedes the text proper, as the title page, copyright page, table of contents, dedication, and preface.
Also called
preliminaries.
Compare
back matter.
Origin of front matter
An Americanism dating back to 1905–10
Words nearby front matter
front line,
front list,
front load,
front loader,
front man,
front matter,
front money,
front nine,
front of house,
front office,
front projection