C1nounformallawhistory
US/ˈpres.ɪ.dənt/
UK/ˈpres.ɪ.dənt/
an earlier action or decision that is used as an example or rule for later similar cases
In context
The court's ruling could set a precedent for thousands of similar cases.
There is no precedent for a president resigning in the middle of a war.
The flooding this year was without precedent in the history of the city.
Words that go with precedent
verb + noun
- set a precedentGiving in to their demands would set a precedent for other workers.
noun + preposition
- without precedentThe scale of the protests was without precedent.
adjective + noun
- legal precedentLawyers searched for a legal precedent that would help their client.
- dangerous precedentClosing the newspaper sets a dangerous precedent.
- historical precedentThere is historical precedent for this kind of peace deal.