precedent
PRESS-uh-duhnt
/ˈpresɪdənt/
An earlier event, decision, or judicial ruling that serves as an authoritative guide or baseline in similar subsequent circumstances.
In legal systems, established judicial precedents bind lower courts under the principle of stare decisis.
The story behind the word. Formed from Anglo-French legal vocabulary where 'chose précédente' meant a matter going before. It evolved in English common law to denote past judicial decisions that must guide current cases.
Word relationships
- benchmark: A benchmark is a point of reference for measurement; a precedent is a prior decision that guides future action or legal ruling.
- authority: Legal authority includes statutes and regulations, whereas precedent refers specifically to prior judicial decisions.
- departure: A departure is a deliberate break from established practice or prior rulings.
Commonly confused with
- president: President (spelled with an 'i') is an executive head of state; precedent (spelled with an 'e') is an earlier ruling or model.
Word family
- precedential (adjective): Serving as or derived from legal precedent.
- unprecedented (adjective): Never done or known before.
Collocations
- set a precedent
- follow precedent
- binding precedent
- unprecedented move
- break with precedent
Idioms & expressions
- establish a precedent
Example sentences
- "The decision set a dangerous precedent for future privacy cases." Judicial decision
- "Judges are generally bound to follow legal precedent unless compelling reasons justify overturning it." Common law theory
Memory hook
PRECEDENT comes PREVIOUSLY (what went before). What went before guides what comes next.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'president' (the executive leader of a republic).
Fun facts
- The Latin legal doctrine behind precedent is stare decisis, which translates literally to 'to stand by things decided'.
Related words
Explore more words
precede, subsequent, predecessor, customary, criterion, preside
Also appears in
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