Pronunciation: /ˈprɛsɪdənt/
noun an earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances
A1 In this country, there is no precedent for such a decision.
A2 The judge based his ruling on precedent set in similar cases.
B1 Legal scholars often refer to past precedents when analyzing current cases.
B2 The lawyer argued that the new law violated established precedents.
C1 The Supreme Court's decision set a new precedent for future cases.
C2 The lawyer cited several precedents to support her argument in court.
adjective preceding in time, order, or importance
A1 I followed the precedent set by my teacher in solving the math problem.
A2 The team decided to follow the precedent of previous successful projects.
B1 The judge cited a precedent case to support her decision.
B2 The company's policy on remote work was based on precedent practices in the industry.
C1 The legal team argued that the new law was in line with established precedent.
C2 The CEO's decision to expand the business overseas was without precedent in the company's history.
formal The judge referred to a legal precedent in making her decision.
informal There's no precedent for this kind of situation, so we'll have to figure it out as we go.
slang I don't want to set a bad precedent by skipping class.
figurative Her success set a precedent for others to follow in her footsteps.
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