What does "precedent" mean?
An act in the past which may be used as an example to help decide the outcome of similar instances in the future.
Precedent
/ˈpɹɛs.ɪ.dənt/ adj, noun, verb
adj, noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An act in the past which may be used as an example to help decide the outcome of similar instances in the future.
- Grammar: precedent is listed as adj, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: action, ancestor, anchoring rule, announcer.
- Useful contrasts: anomaly, deviation, exception.
- Usage evidence: There is no precedent for such a case.
How to use "precedent"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "precedent" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "precedent" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "precedent" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "precedent" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "precedent" is acting as adj, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "action" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "precedent", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An act in the past which may be used as an example to help decide the outcome of similar instances in the future.
"Examples for cases can but direct as precedents only."
- 2 an example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a later time wordnet
- 3 A decided case which is cited or used as an example to justify a judgment in a subsequent case.
- 4 (civil law) a law established by following earlier judicial decisions wordnet
- 5 An established habit or custom.
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 a subject mentioned earlier (preceding in time) wordnet
- 7 The aforementioned (thing). obsolete, with-definite-article
"A third argument may be derived from the precedent."
- 8 a system of jurisprudence based on judicial precedents rather than statutory laws wordnet
- 9 The previous version.
- 10 A rough draught of a writing which precedes a finished copy. obsolete
"My Lord Melun, let this be copied out, I did suppose it should be on constraint ; And keep it safe for our remembrance : But , heaven be thank'd , it is but voluntary , Return the precedent to these lords again"
Verb
- 1 To provide precedents for. transitive
- 2 To be a precedent for. transitive
Adjective
- 1 Happening or taking place earlier in time; previous or preceding. not-comparable
- 2 Coming before in a particular order or arrangement; preceding, foregoing. archaic, not-comparable
"In the precedent section mention was made, amongst other pleasant objects, of this comeliness and beauty which proceeds from women […]."
Adjective
- 1 preceding in time, order, or significance wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"There is no precedent for such a case."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "precedent"?
Common synonyms include: action, ancestor, anchoring rule, announcer, antecedent, anterior.
How do you use "precedent" in a sentence?
There is no precedent for such a case.
How do you pronounce "precedent"?
Pronounced /ˈpɹɛs.ɪ.dənt/.
Etymology
From Middle French, from Old French, from Latin praecēdēns, present participle of praecēdere (“to precede”); See precede.