set a precedent

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

to establish through a judicial ruling, decision, or action a standard or rule that will guide or bind future decisions in similar circumstances; in common law legal systems the doctrine of stare decisis — meaning to stand by what has been decided — requires courts to follow the precedents established by higher courts in their jurisdiction, giving judicial precedent the force of law and creating a coherent, predictable body of judge-made law that develops incrementally through the accumulation of cases; in general usage setting a precedent describes any first decision or action that establishes expectations for how similar situations will be handled in the future, whether in institutional policy, social norms, workplace practice, or international relations; the phrase often carries a cautionary dimension — be careful what precedent you set, because it will constrain future choices