Meaning & use
precedent
An earlier event, decision, or case that is used as an example or guide for later similar situations.
See it in a sentence
The court's ruling set a precedent that influenced dozens of later cases.
Approving the request would establish a precedent the company might regret.
A note on using this word
Precedent is central to legal reasoning, where courts often follow earlier decisions, but it is also used broadly outside law for any guiding past example.
Words with a similar meaning
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