precedential

American  

[pres-i-den-shuhl] / ˌprɛs ɪˈdɛn ʃəl /

adjective

1. of the nature of or constituting a precedent.

2. having precedence.

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precedential British  

/ ˌprɛsɪˈdɛnʃəl /

adjective

1. of, involving, or serving as a precedent

2. having precedence

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Other Word Forms

• nonprecedential adjective
• precedentially adverb
• unprecedential adjective

Etymology

Origin of precedential

First recorded in 1635–45; precedent + -ial

Example Sentences

City of Brandon was a straightforward precedential fix-it job.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

“Trial court decisions have no precedential value in California; they bind the parties but not another court,” noted James Fischer, an insurance law expert and professor at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 8, 2025

“So this is a good thing, both from the precedential level, but also for protecting people from this pollutant,” he said.

From Washington Post • Jan. 5, 2022

“He can designate particular board opinions as precedential, thus making those opinions binding on future panels. He can also decide whether any particular review will be instituted and which judges will sit on the panel.”

From New York Times • Mar. 1, 2021

Gore was widely understood to be a “good for one ride only” holding that would have no precedential force in any future case.

From Slate • Oct. 19, 2020