precedent

Meaning

Noun

1. An act in the past which may be used as an example to help decide the outcome of similar instances in the future.
2. A decided case which is cited or used as an example to justify a judgment in a subsequent case.
3. An established habit or custom.
4. (obsolete, with-definite-article) The aforementioned (thing).
5. The previous version.
6. (obsolete) A rough draught of a writing which precedes a finished copy.

Adj

1. (not-comparable) Happening or taking place earlier in time; previous or preceding.
2. (archaic, not-comparable) Coming before in a particular order or arrangement; preceding, foregoing.

Verb

1. (transitive) To provide precedents for.
2. (transitive) To be a precedent for.

Synonyms

example

antecedent

preceding

model

former

custom

case law

common law

anterior

standard

previous

foregoing

usage

predecessor

sample

case in point

earlier

practice

precursor

prior

quondam

scriptures

tradition

above-named

prejudgment

of convention

old custom

prejudgement

authoritative example

mamool

anterior to

foretype

above

above-mentioned

aforementioned

aforesaid

authority

case

classics

convention

forerunner

illustration

instance

leading case

legal authority

old

🧓

paradigm

pattern

Translations

précédent

Präzedenzfall

precedente

precedente

jurisprudence

precedent

Beispiel

precedente

antecedente

το προηγούμενο

προηγούμενο

vorhergehend

Präzedens

emsal

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈpɹɛs.ɪ.dənt/

Etymology

From Middle French, from Old French, from Latin praecēdēns, present participle of praecēdere (“to precede”); See precede.