precedent

[ noun pres-i-duh nt; adjective pri-seed-nt, pres-i-duh nt ]
/ noun ˈprɛs ɪ dənt; adjective prɪˈsid nt, ˈprɛs ɪ dənt /

noun

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.

adjective pre·ce·dent [pri-seed-nt, pres-i-duh nt] /prɪˈsid nt, ˈprɛs ɪ dənt/

going or coming before; preceding; anterior.

Origin of precedent

1350–1400; (adj.) Middle English < Latin praecēdent- (stem of praecēdēns) present participle of praecēdere to go before, precede (see -ent); (noun) late Middle English, derivative of the adj.

OTHER WORDS FROM precedent

prec·e·dent·less, adjective non·prec·e·dent, noun non·pre·ced·ent, adjective qua·si-pre·ced·ent, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH precedent

precedence precedents presidents

Words nearby precedent

precautious, precava, precede, precedence, precedency, precedent, precedented, precedential, preceding, precent, precentor

British Dictionary definitions for non-precedent

precedent

noun (ˈprɛsɪdənt)

law a judicial decision that serves as an authority for deciding a later case
an example or instance used to justify later similar occurrences

adjective (prɪˈsiːdənt, ˈprɛsɪdənt)

preceding

Cultural definitions for non-precedent

precedent
[ (press-uh-duhnt) ]

A previous ruling by a court that influences subsequent decisions in cases with similar issues.

Idioms and Phrases with non-precedent

precedent

see set a precedent.