precedence

[pres-i-duh ns, pri-seed-ns]

See more synonyms for precedence on Thesaurus.com

noun

act or fact of preceding.
the right to precede in order, rank, or importance; priority.
the fact of preceding in time; antedating.

the right to precede others in ceremonies or social formalities.
the order to be observed in ceremonies by persons of different ranks, as by diplomatic protocol.

Origin of precedence

First recorded in 1475–85; preced(ent) + -ence

Can be confusedprecedence precedents presidents

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for precedence

Contemporary Examples

He filmed that part, too, with the host performing parody songs around Los Angeles to establish a precedence of parodic works.
Nathan Fielder’s Business Theater: ‘Dumb Starbucks’ Wasn’t a Prank
Rich Goldstein
August 4, 2014
They taught that "the interests of the poor have precedence over the interests of the rich."
Avoiding Sodom: It's About Policy, Not Charity
Gershom Gorenberg
September 10, 2012
The Order of Precedence also affects many other aspects of royal protocol, such as who arrives first at an event.
Queen Orders That Kate Must Curtsey to 'Blood Princesses'
Tom Sykes
June 25, 2012
Sherman has always acknowledged the contact, so maybe the whole issue of precedence is a dead letter.
An Artist’s Early Climax
Blake Gopnik
May 25, 2012
The idea had originally come from Buckingham Palace; that boys should no longer have precedence in the succession over girls.
The Real Reason Why Kate Isn't Pregnant Yet?
Robert Lacey
May 17, 2012

Historical Examples

But the old sleep must have the precedence of all the new things.
Weighed and Wanting
George MacDonald
But it transpired that there was something preparatory to that, or at least that must take the precedence.
Ester Ried Yet Speaking
Isabella Alden
Meeting Casanova in the entry, he gave him precedence with mock politeness.
Casanova's Homecoming
Arthur Schnitzler
There is no other law of precedence, no other law of rank and position in God's kingdom.
A Dish Of Orts
George MacDonald
Imogen had been unused to the distinctions of rank and precedence.
Imogen
William Godwin

British Dictionary definitions for precedence

precedence

precedency

noun

the act of preceding or the condition of being precedent
the ceremonial order or priority to be observed by persons of different stations on formal occasionsthe officers are seated according to precedence
a right to preferential treatmentI take precedence over you

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for precedence

n.

late 15c., "a being a precedent," from precedent (n.) + -ence. Meaning "fact of preceding another, right of preceding another" is from c.1600.

precedence

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}precedence

Examples from the Web for precedence

Contemporary Examples

He filmed that part, too, with the host performing parody songs around Los Angeles to establish a precedence of parodic works.

They taught that "the interests of the poor have precedence over the interests of the rich."

The Order of Precedence also affects many other aspects of royal protocol, such as who arrives first at an event.

Sherman has always acknowledged the contact, so maybe the whole issue of precedence is a dead letter.

The idea had originally come from Buckingham Palace; that boys should no longer have precedence in the succession over girls.

Historical Examples

But the old sleep must have the precedence of all the new things.

But it transpired that there was something preparatory to that, or at least that must take the precedence.

Meeting Casanova in the entry, he gave him precedence with mock politeness.

There is no other law of precedence, no other law of rank and position in God's kingdom.

Imogen had been unused to the distinctions of rank and precedence.

precedence

precedency

Word Origin and History for precedence

n.

Origin of precedence