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- Dictionaryprecedent
noun
- 1. an earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances: "there are substantial precedents for using interactive media in training"
adjective
- 1. preceding in time, order, or importance: "a precedent case"
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A precedent is something that precedes, or comes before. The Supreme Court relies on precedents—that is, earlier laws or decisions that provide some example or rule to guide them in the case they're actually deciding.
a previous action, situation, or decision that can be used as a reason or example for a similar action or decision at a later time: [ C ] Conditions have changed enormously, and the past is not much of a precedent. [ U ] Precedent indicated that a change would take place sooner rather than later.
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. Synonyms: standard, pattern, model, example.
A precedent is something that sets a standard for future events. It's hard to say what the legal community would do without the word precedent, since so many legal judgments and decisions are based on what came before.
If there is a precedent for an action or event, it has happened before, and this can be regarded as an argument for doing it again. The trial could set an important precedent for dealing with similar cases.
1. an act or instance that may serve as an example or justification for subsequent situations. 2. a legal decision serving as an authoritative rule or pattern in similar cases that follow. 3. established practice; custom: to break with precedent. adj. 4. preceding; prior. pre•ce•dent.
precedent. [countable, uncountable] an official action or decision that has happened in the past and that is seen as an example or a rule to be followed in a similar situation later. The ruling set a precedent for future libel cases.
PRECEDENT meaning: an action or decision that is used as an example when someone wants to do a similar thing in the…. Learn more.
Jul 16, 2024 · precedent (plural precedents) An act in the past which may be used as an example to help decide the outcome of similar instances in the future.
PRECEDENT meaning: 1 : a similar action or event that happened at an earlier time; 2 : something done or said that can be used as an example or rule to be followed in the future.
