Definitions for precedent
ˈprɛs ɪ dənt; prɪˈsid nt, ˈprɛs ɪ dəntprece·dent

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:3.7 / 3 votes

1. precedent, case in pointnoun

   an example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a later time

2. case law, precedent, common lawnoun

   (civil law) a law established by following earlier judicial decisions

3. common law, case law, precedentnoun

   a system of jurisprudence based on judicial precedents rather than statutory laws

   "common law originated in the unwritten laws of England and was later applied in the United States"

4. precedentadjective

   a subject mentioned earlier (preceding in time)

5. precedentadjective

   preceding in time, order, or significance

WiktionaryRate this definition:3.5 / 2 votes

1. precedentnoun

   An act in the past which may be used as an example to help decide the outcome of similar instances in the future.

2. precedentnoun

   A decided case which is cited or used as an example to justify a judgment in a subsequent case.

3. precedentnoun

   The aforementioned (thing).

4. precedentnoun

   The previous version.

5. precedentverb

   To provide precedents for.

6. precedentverb

   To be a precedent for.

7. precedentadjective

   Happening or taking place earlier in time; previous or preceding.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Precedentadjective

   Former; going before.

   Etymology: precedent, Fr. præcedens, Lat.

   Do it at once,
   Or thy precedent services are all
   But accidents unpurpos’d. William Shakespeare, Ant. and Cleop.

   Our own precedent passions do instruct us.
   What levity’s in youth. William Shakespeare, Timon of Athens.

   When you work by the imagination of another, it is necessary that he, by whom you work, have a precedent opinion of you, that you can do strange things. Francis Bacon.

   Hippocrates, in his prognosticks, doth made good observations of the diseases that ensue upon the nature of the precedent four seasons of the year. Francis Bacon.

   The world, or any part thereof, could not be precedent to the creation of man. Matthew Hale, Origin of Mankind.

   Truths, absolutely necessary to salvation, are so clearly revealed, that we cannot err in them, unless we be notoriously wanting to ourselves; herein the fault of the judgment is resolved into a precedent default in the will. South.

2. Precedentnoun

   Any thing that is a rule or example to future times; any thing done before of the same kind.

   Examples for cases can but direct as precedents only. Richard Hooker.

   Eleven hours I’ve spent to write it over,
   The precedent was full as long a doing. William Shakespeare.

   A reason mighty, strong and effectual,
   A pattern, precedent and lively warrant
   For me, most wretched, to perform the like. William Shakespeare.

   No pow’r in Venice
   Can alter a decree established:
   ’Twill be recorded for a precedent;
   And many an errour, by the same example,
   Will rush into the state. William Shakespeare, Merch. of Venice.

   God, in the administration of his justice, is not tied to precedents, and we cannot argue, that the providences of God towards other nations shall be conformable to his dealings with the people of Israel. John Tillotson, Sermons.

   Such precedents are numberless; we draw
   Our right from custom; custom is a law. George Granville.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Precedent

   A precedent is a principle or rule established in a previous legal case that is either binding on or persuasive for a court or other tribunal when deciding subsequent cases with similar issues or facts. Common-law legal systems place great value on deciding cases according to consistent principled rules, so that similar facts will yield similar and predictable outcomes, and observance of precedent is the mechanism by which that goal is attained. The principle by which judges are bound to precedents is known as stare decisis (a Latin phrase with the literal meaning of "to stand in the-things-that-have-been-decided"). Common-law precedent is a third kind of law, on equal footing with statutory law (that is, statutes and codes enacted by legislative bodies) and subordinate legislation (that is, regulations promulgated by executive branch agencies, in the form of delegated legislation) in UK parlance – or regulatory law (in US parlance). Case law, in common-law jurisdictions, is the set of decisions of adjudicatory tribunals or other rulings that can be cited as precedent. In most countries, including most European countries, the term is applied to any set of rulings on law, which is guided by previous rulings, for example, previous decisions of a government agency. Essential to the development of case law is the publication and indexing of decisions for use by lawyers, courts, and the general public, in the form of law reports. While all decisions are precedent (though at varying levels of authority as discussed throughout this article), some become "leading cases" or "landmark decisions" that are cited especially often.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. precedent

   A precedent is a legal case or decision that serves as a guide or authority for future cases with similar circumstances or issues. It establishes a principle or rule that is binding and should be followed by lower courts when deciding similar cases. Precedents help ensure a consistent interpretation and application of the law over time.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 2 votes

1. Precedentadjective

   going before; anterior; preceding; antecedent; as, precedent services

2. Precedentnoun

   something done or said that may serve as an example to authorize a subsequent act of the same kind; an authoritative example

3. Precedentnoun

   a preceding circumstance or condition; an antecedent; hence, a prognostic; a token; a sign

4. Precedentnoun

   a rough draught of a writing which precedes a finished copy

5. Precedentnoun

   a judicial decision which serves as a rule for future determinations in similar or analogous cases; an authority to be followed in courts of justice; forms of proceeding to be followed in similar cases

6. Etymology: [L. praecedens, -entis, p. pr. of praecedere: cf. F. prcdent. See Precede.]

WikidataRate this definition:3.7 / 3 votes

1. Precedent

   In common law legal systems, a precedent or authority is a principle or rule established in a previous legal case that is either binding on or persuasive for a court or other tribunal when deciding subsequent cases with similar issues or facts. The general principle in common law legal systems is that similar cases should be decided so as to give similar and predictable outcomes, and the principle of precedent is the mechanism by which that goal is attained. Black's Law Dictionary defines "precedent" as a "rule of law established for the first time by a court for a particular type of case and thereafter referred to in deciding similar cases." Common law precedent is a third kind of law, on equal footing with statutory law, and regulatory law. Stare decisis is a legal principle by which judges are obliged to respect the precedent established by prior decisions. The words originate from the phrasing of the principle in the Latin maxim Stare decisis et non quieta movere: "to stand by decisions and not disturb the undisturbed." In a legal context, this is understood to mean that courts should generally abide by precedent and not disturb settled matters.

Military Dictionary and GazetteerRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. precedent

   Any act which can be interpreted into an example for future times, is called a precedent. Persons in high office are extremely scrupulous with respect to precedents, especially in military matters.

Matched Categories

1. • Civil Law
   • Law

British National Corpus

1. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'precedent' in Nouns Frequency: #2735

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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How to pronounce precedent?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say precedent in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of precedent in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of precedent in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of precedent in a Sentence

1. John Thune:

   I just think for most people that has been litigated. That was a big issue over the course of President Donald Trump campaign and people voted for President Donald Trump, i think if you start down that path, that's kind of a slippery slope. I suspect that's precedent that you would create that in the future would get used again for that purpose, and sometimes the shoe may be on the other foot.

2. Elisabeth Smith:

   There is nearly 50 years of precedent that says this law is unconstitutional, regardless of what district judge hears this case, there is no argument that Alabama can make that this law is constitutional.

3. Lady Nancy Astor:

   Truth always originates in a minority of one, and every custom begins as a broken precedent.

4. Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams:

   They( undocumented immigrants) were told with this ID, they would have some form of liberty in this city without being arrested, we are setting a dangerous precedent with what we saw here.

5. Kevin Gough:

   If we're going to start a precedent, starting yesterday, where we're going to bring high-profile members of the African American community into the courtroom to sit with the family during the trial in the presence of the jury, I believe that's intimidating and it's an attempt to pressure -- could be consciously or unconsciously -- an attempt to pressure or influence the jury.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=precedent
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Precedent
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=precedent
4. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precedent
5. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
6. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precedent
7. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=precedent
8. ^ Military Dictionary and Gazetteer
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/59563/pg59563-images.html
9. ^ Usage in printed sources
   https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=precedent