precedent
pronunciation
How to pronounce precedent in British English:
UK [ˈpresɪdənt]
How to pronounce precedent in American English:
US [ˈpresɪdənt]
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- Noun:
- an example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a later time
- (civil law) a law established by following earlier judicial decisions
- a system of jurisprudence based on judicial precedents rather than statutory laws
- a subject mentioned earlier (preceding in time)
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- Adjective:
- preceding in time, order, or significance
Word Origin
- precedent (n.)
- early 15c., "case which may be taken as a rule in similar cases," from Middle French precedent, noun use of an adjective, from Latin praecedentum (nominative praecedens), present participle of praecedere "go before" (see precede). Meaning "thing or person that goes before another" is attested from mid-15c. As an adjective in English from c. 1400. As a verb meaning "to furnish with a precedent" from 1610s, now only in past participle precedented.
Antonym
Example
- 1. It is also a worrying precedent for our democracy .
- 2. Not a precedent you want to set .
- 3. But iraqi precedent suggests otherwise .
- 4. But it nonetheless set a precedent .
- 5. Nationalizing banks is not without precedent .