precedent
An act in the past which may be used as an example to help decide the outcome of similar instances in the future.
Other meanings
A decided case which is cited or used as an example to justify a judgment in a subsequent case.
An established habit or custom.
Synonyms
- case in point
Related words
- binding precedent
- precedency
- precedentless
- precedently
- unprecedent
- unprecedental
- unprecedently
- condition precedent
- declaratory precedent
- original precedent
- persuasive precedent
- precedented
Word history
From Latin "praecēdēns".
Where this comes from
This definition is adapted from “precedent” on Wiktionary, by its contributors; related-word lists use Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0, based on Princeton WordNet), published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.