precedent
A precedent is an earlier event or action that is used as an example or guide for similar circumstances in the future. In a legal context, it refers to a previous court decision that judges must follow when deciding similar cases.
Examples
3 of 5By letting the students leave early once, the teacher set a precedent that was hard to change.
By letting the students leave early once, the teacher set a precedent that was hard to change.
The Supreme Court ruling created a legal precedent that will affect all lower courts.
The Supreme Court ruling created a legal precedent that will affect all lower courts.
I don't want to start a precedent of answering emails on Sundays.
I don't want to start a precedent of answering emails on Sundays.
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Precedent starts with 'PRE' (which means 'before'). It is a decision made 'before' that guides us now.
Quick Quiz
The judge decided to follow the _____ set by the higher court ten years ago.
Correct!
The correct answer is: precedent
Examples
By letting the students leave early once, the teacher set a precedent that was hard to change.
everydayBy letting the students leave early once, the teacher set a precedent that was hard to change.
The Supreme Court ruling created a legal precedent that will affect all lower courts.
formalThe Supreme Court ruling created a legal precedent that will affect all lower courts.
I don't want to start a precedent of answering emails on Sundays.
informalI don't want to start a precedent of answering emails on Sundays.
Historians examined the 19th-century precedent to understand the modern political shift.
academicHistorians examined the 19th-century precedent to understand the modern political shift.
There is no precedent in this company for a trainee being promoted to manager in six months.
businessThere is no precedent in this company for a trainee being promoted to manager in six months.
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
without precedent
never having happened before
dangerous precedent
a past action that may lead to bad future consequences
binding precedent
a legal rule that must be followed
Often Confused With
Precedence refers to being more important or coming first in order, while precedent refers to a previous example.
President is the leader of an organization or country, while precedent is an abstract concept of a past example.
Usage Notes
Use 'precedent' when you are justifying a current action by pointing to something that happened before. It is most commonly used with the verb 'set' or 'establish'.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use 'precedence' (priority) when they mean 'precedent' (past example). Also, be careful not to confuse the spelling with 'president'.
Memory Tip
Precedent starts with 'PRE' (which means 'before'). It is a decision made 'before' that guides us now.
Word Origin
Derived from the Latin word 'praecedere', which means 'to go before'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In common law legal systems like those in the UK and USA, judicial precedent is a primary source of law, meaning judges are often legally bound by previous rulings.
Quick Quiz
The judge decided to follow the _____ set by the higher court ten years ago.
Correct!
The correct answer is: precedent
Related Vocabulary
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