precedent

CEFRC1

/ˈpɹɛs.ɪ.dənt/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    An earlier example used to guide a later decision.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

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

Examples

  • It's totally without precedent for the suspect's attorney to be the true culprit.

  • The ruling set a precedent for future libel cases.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
3
Synonyms
1

Also pronounced

  • /ˈpɹes.ɪ.dənt/
  • /ˈpɹɛs-/

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. An established habit or custom.

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

  3. The previous version.

More examples

In context

  • There is no precedent for such a case.

  • A third argument may be derived from the precedent.

  • Examples for cases can but direct as precedents only.

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The judge cited a previous court ruling as a blank for her decision.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Middle French, from Old French, from Latin praecēdēns, present participle of praecēdere (“to precede”); See precede.