precedent
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.
Origin of precedent
1Other words for precedent
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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use precedent in a sentence
The effort is meant to set a legal precedent for mining on the lunar surface that would allow NASA to one day collect ice, helium or other materials useful to colonies on the moon and, eventually, Mars.
NASA wants to buy moon rocks from anyone who can fund their own space trip | Verne Kopytoff | September 10, 2020 | FortuneIn the judicial branch, legal precedent still protects officers from the consequences of deadly force with qualified immunity.
Kenosha’s looting is a symptom of a decrepit democracy | Aaron Ross Coleman | September 4, 2020 | VoxSome of the other ones, it’s just interesting, the nuance that the court has taken in terms of judicial precedent that they follow.
There is precedent for previous records being dismissed once disproven.
Death Valley hits 130° F, the hottest recorded temperature on Earth since 1931 | Carolyn Gramling | August 17, 2020 | Science News“While similar to AB 1460, the new CSU policy avoids setting a precedent for future curriculum decisions to be determined by the legislature,” he wrote in an email.
Sacramento Report: Ethnic Studies Dispute Pits CSU Against Lawmakers | Sara Libby and Maya Srikrishnan | July 24, 2020 | Voice of San Diego
Indeed, the Japanese-owned corporation has set a horrible precedent.
Kim Jong Un, Avert Your Eyes: Sony’s ‘The Interview’ Gets the Porn Parody Treatment | Aurora Snow | December 20, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTRoberts has shown a tendency in other political law cases to make broad pronouncements, upsetting precedent.
The Supreme Court Is Weighing Corporate Power Yet Again | Zephyr Teachout | October 17, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST“A scary precedent has been set,” she told the Observer back in May.
Meet Amal Alamuddin, George Clooney’s Wife | Lizzie Crocker, Chris Allbritton | September 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTFurthermore, being designated as a victim of a separate genocide and not a Holocaust victim is precedent-setting.
The Holocaust’s Forgotten Roma Victims | Kristin Raeesi, Glenda Bailey-Mershon, Margareta Matache | September 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIs there any recent precedent for a reluctant but strong warrior in Republican politics?
The Secret to Rand Paul’s Foreign Policy: His Father | W. James Antle III | September 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe council, however, resolved not to indulge the king, for fear of a dangerous precedent.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun; | VariousThe Pope replied that reconciliation with the Church was an indispensable condition precedent.
King Robert the Bruce | A. F. MurisonProthero's case defied all rule and precedent, and Brodrick was not prepared with a judgment of his own.
The Creators | May SinclairSo dangerous a precedent being once admitted, it became necessary to resort to still other expedients.
A Cursory History of Swearing | Julian SharmanAn incident of this great experiment is worth recording, as possibly affording a hint and a precedent.
English Poor Law Policy | Sidney Webb
British Dictionary definitions for precedent
law a judicial decision that serves as an authority for deciding a later case
an example or instance used to justify later similar occurrences
preceding
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Cultural definitions for precedent
[ (press-uh-duhnt) ]
A previous ruling by a court that influences subsequent decisions in cases with similar issues.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with precedent
see set a precedent.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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