set a precedent

1. Establish a usage, tradition, or standard to be followed in the future. For example, He set a precedent by having the chaplain lead the academic procession. The word precedent here signifies a previous instance or legal decision upon which future instances are based, a usage dating from the early 1400s. In British and American law it more specifically refers to a legal decision that may be used as a standard in subsequent cases.

Example Sentences

Most, 96%, said the Fed was mostly or completely independent from 1993—when the Clinton White House set a precedent of not publicly questioning the Fed’s policy decisions—until 2024.

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Ari Savitzky, a senior staff attorney at the ACLU, told Salon that he fears a ruling against Bost on the issue of standing could set a precedent that would close courthouse doors to advocacy groups and candidates in the future.

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It set a precedent which gave the FBU an opportunity to re-enter negotiations.

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Observers say the outcome could set a precedent for future federal involvement in education policy nationwide.

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Critics argue the firings could set a precedent for policing personal expression within federal agencies, raising concerns about the balance between free speech and professional conduct.

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