precedent

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   An earlier event, action, or decision that guides how a similar later situation is handled.

   Grammar: Often follows set, create, or follow: set a precedent for others.

   Patterns

   • set a precedent
   • follow precedent
   • without precedent
   • a precedent for something

   The school created a precedent by funding student-led research.

   Managers checked the old contract before setting a precedent for remote work.

2. 2nouncountablelegal

   A previous court decision that judges use as an authority in later cases.

   Grammar: Legal use still takes a plural; binding precedent is stronger than persuasive precedent.

   Patterns

   • legal precedent
   • binding precedent
   • overturn precedent

   The judge cited a 1998 precedent on privacy rights.

   A higher court can overturn precedent when society and facts have changed.

Word forms

Common combinations

set a precedent

Allowing late entries may set a precedent for future contests.

legal precedent

The ruling became legal precedent for later housing cases.

without precedent

The flood was without precedent in local records.

follow precedent

The committee chose to follow precedent and hold a public hearing.

Synonyms and how they differ

example

A neutral model; precedent implies later decisions should align with it.

model

A pattern to copy; weaker than a binding legal precedent.

tradition

A repeated custom, not necessarily a single earlier decision.

authority

Legal sources that support an argument; broader than one precedent.

Word family

precede verb

To come before in time, order, or importance.

preceding adjective

Coming just before: the preceding chapter.

precedence noun

Priority in order or rank; related but not the same as precedent.

unprecedented adjective

Never done or known before.

Commonly confused: precedent or president?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “precedent”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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