precedent

The definition of precedent is a decision that is the basis or reason for future decisions.

(noun)

An example of precedent is the legal decision in Brown v. Board of Education guiding future laws about desegregation.

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See precedent in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

that precedes; preceding

Origin: ME < MFr précédent < L praecedens, prp. of praecedere, to precede

noun precedent

  1. an act, statement, legal decision, case, etc. that may serve as an example, reason, or justification for a later one
  2. a practice based upon earlier precedents

See precedent in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. a. An act or instance that may be used as an example in dealing with subsequent similar instances.
    b. Law A judicial decision that may be used as a standard in subsequent similar cases: a landmark decision that set a legal precedent.
  2. Convention or custom arising from long practice: The President followed historical precedent in forming the Cabinet.
adjective (prĭ-sēdˈnt, prĕsˈĭ-dənt)
Preceding.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Latin praecēdēns, praecēdent-

Origin: , present participle of praecēdere, to go before; see precede

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