Precedent meaning

prĕs'ĭ-dənt
An act, statement, legal decision, case, etc. that may serve as an example, reason, or justification for a later one.
noun
18
4
The definition of precedent is a decision that is the basis or reason for future decisions.

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

noun
10
5
An act in the past which may be used as an example to help decide the outcome of similar instances in the future.
noun
7
3
A practice based upon earlier precedents.
noun
4
0
Preceding.
adjective
4
12
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Something that came before, hence preceded the event currently in question, such as a previously decided case. It may serve as a model for the interpretation of a law, or disposition as a case.
adjective
3
0
That precedes; preceding.
adjective
2
2
Convention or custom arising from long practice.

The president followed historical precedent in forming the Cabinet.

noun
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0
(law) A decided case which is cited or used as an example to justify a judgment in a subsequent case.
noun
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The previous version.
noun
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0
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(now rare) Coming before in a particular order or arrangement; preceding, foregoing. [from 15th c.]
adjective
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(law) To provide precedents for.
verb
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(law) To be a precedent for.
verb
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0
Happening or taking place earlier in time; previous or preceding. [from 14th c.]
adjective
0
1

Origin of precedent

  • Middle English from Old French from Latin praecēdēns praecēdent- present participle of praecēdere to go before precede
    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
  • From Middle English, from Old French, from Latin praecÄ“dÄ“ns, present participle of praecÄ“dere (“to precede"); See precede.
    From Wiktionary

Precedent Sentence Examples

  • She was setting a precedent for the future.

  • Preventing violent crimes and crimes against the weak usually take precedent over fraud and economic crimes.

  • He set the precedent in the history of art.

  • Appeal panels are not bound by precedent or by any notional percentage of appeals which they must uphold in parents' favor.

  • Whether or not the merger works better without Mr. Green, the method of his disposal is a dangerous precedent.

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Words near precedent in the Dictionary