precedent
n. · adj.-
1 an example for the future (n.) B2 Upper Intermediatean action or decision from the past that is used as a guide for similar situations later.
an act or instance that may be used as an example or standard in subsequent similar cases.
ExampleThe company's decision to allow remote work set a precedent for other businesses in the city.
ExampleThe CEO was reluctant to grant the exception, fearing it would create a precedent that other employees would cite during future negotiations.
UsageOften used with the verb 'set' or 'follow'.
-
2 legal ruling (n.) C1 Advanced Formal Technical Lawa previous court decision that judges must follow in new, similar cases.
a judicial decision that serves as an authority for deciding a later case involving identical or similar facts.
ExampleThe judge looked at a precedent from 1995 to help him decide the current case.
ExampleLegal counsel argued that the 1924 ruling established a binding precedent that the lower court was not at liberty to ignore.
UsageCommonly modified by 'legal', 'binding', or 'judicial'.
Show 1 more senseShow fewer
-
3 happening before (adj.) C2 Proficiency Formal Academichappening or coming before something else in time.
preceding in time, order, or importance.
ExampleThe two parties reached an agreement without any precedent discussion of the costs.
ExampleThe researcher examined the precedent events that led to the collapse of the treaty, focusing on the diplomatic failures of the previous decade.
UsageUsually placed before the noun it modifies.
From Middle French, from Old French, from Latin praecēdēns, present participle of praecēdere (“to precede”); See precede.
- Nounprecedent
- Adjectiveunprecedented