precedent
[noun pres-i-duh nt; adjective pri-seed-nt, pres-i-duh nt]
- Law. a legal decision or form of proceeding serving as an authoritative rule or pattern in future similar or analogous cases.
- any act, decision, or case that serves as a guide or justification for subsequent situations.
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- going or coming before; preceding; anterior.
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Origin of precedent
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for precedents
Contemporary Examples
Historical parallels and precedents for social media abound.
This is about a health-care law that is reality and the setting of precedents on executive power.
Ironically, almost all the precedents he mentions demonstrate the need for partition of one kind or another.
John Roberts assured the Senate Judiciary Committee that judges must "be bound down by rules and precedents."
At a press luncheon Tuesday, he again expressed his confidence that the justices will “abide by well-established” precedents.
Historical Examples
There were mountains of precedents on this side or that, as you pleased.
Blood and IronJohn Hubert Greusel
He did no more than follow the precedents of his own and every surrounding nation.
A Critical Exposition of the Popular 'Jihd'Moulavi Gergh Ali
He ventured to declare—following the precedents—that she had treated him shamefully.
Tristram of BlentAnthony Hope
These were chiefly well-meaning folks, not much given to the study of precedents.
We TwoEdna Lyall
We've certainly upset some precedents, broken some rules, and maybe some laws.
David Lannarck, MidgetGeorge S. Harney
precedent
- law a judicial decision that serves as an authority for deciding a later case
- an example or instance used to justify later similar occurrences
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- preceding
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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 precedents
precedent
n.
early 15c., "case which may be taken as a rule in similar cases," from Middle French precedent, noun use of an adjective, from Latin praecedentum (nominative praecedens), present participle of praecedere "go before" (see precede). Meaning "thing or person that goes before another" is attested from mid-15c. As an adjective in English from c.1400. As a verb meaning "to furnish with a precedent" from 1610s, now only in past participle precedented.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
precedent
[(press-uh-duhnt)]
A previous ruling by a court that influences subsequent decisions in cases with similar issues.
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The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Idioms and Phrases with precedents
precedent
see set a precedent.
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.