word
Legal
precedent
PRES-ih-dent
ˈprɛsɪdəntListen
Hear it in a clear American voice. Slow it down to catch each syllable.
Syllable breakdown
precedent
Dictionary meaning
A previous case or legal decision that guides future decisions on the same issue.
History and origin
Latin praecedere (to go before).
Examples
- The landmark ruling set a precedent for future discrimination cases.
People also look up
Learn one new pronunciation a day
Get a word, name or idiom like “precedent” in your inbox — daily or weekly, free. Unsubscribe any time.
Something wrong? Suggest a correction