precedent
precedent — noun
1. something earlier, such as a case or decision, that later supports a similar mov
something earlier, such as a case or decision, that later supports a similar move.
The school refused the request, fearing it would set a precedent.
set a precedent
Last year's pay cut became a precedent for other small firms.
precedent for + noun
City leaders cited the old bus deal as a precedent for change.
Granting one late form created a precedent the office could not ignore.
Parents worried that free retries would establish a bad precedent.
- exception
a special case that is not meant to guide later action
文法句型
set a precedent
precedent for something
cite something as a precedent
用法筆記
Often used when one decision may encourage or justify similar decisions later. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about an accepted custom, and from sense 3, which is limited to court decisions.
常見錯誤
2. the usual way something has long been done and is therefore treated as the accep
the usual way something has long been done and is therefore treated as the accepted way.
At the temple, women still enter first by precedent.
by precedent
The club followed precedent and chose the oldest member as chair.
follow precedent
Breaking with precedent, the mayor opened the meeting in two languages.
In the Wu family, dinner starts at seven by precedent.
In this village, land passes to daughters by local precedent.
- tradition
often broader and more strongly connected with culture or ceremony
- custom
stresses a habitual social practice
- convention
often refers to an accepted social or professional rule
- innovation
a new way of doing something instead of the old one
文法句型
by precedent
follow precedent
break with precedent
用法筆記
Usually uncountable in this meaning and common in phrases such as "by precedent" and "break with precedent". Distinguish from sense 1, which points to one earlier example, not the whole accepted practice.
常見錯誤
3. a court decision from an earlier case that later judges may use in similar cases
a court decision from an earlier case that later judges may use in similar cases.
The court's ruling became a precedent for future privacy cases.
legal precedent for + case type
Lawyers searched for a precedent before filing the new appeal.
That housing case set an important precedent in state law.
Without a clear precedent, the judge read both sides carefully.
The Supreme Court created a precedent lower courts still follow.
文法句型
legal precedent
precedent for a case
follow a precedent
用法筆記
Common with courts, judges, rulings, appeals, and case law. Distinguish from sense 1, which can describe any earlier example, not only a legal ruling.
常見錯誤
precedent — adjective
1. formal: earlier than another thing in date, sequence, or importance.
formal: earlier than another thing in date, sequence, or importance.
The sale cannot close until each condition precedent is met.
fixed legal phrase: condition precedent
The bank added a new condition precedent before releasing the loan.
The lawyers argued that the letter was a condition precedent to closing.
Without that condition precedent, the buyer could walk away from the deal.
Our contract lists three conditions precedent before the final payment is due.
- subsequent
formal opposite meaning coming later
文法句型
condition precedent
something is precedent to something
用法筆記
Mostly appears in formal legal phrases, especially "condition precedent" and "conditions precedent". In everyday English, earlier or previous is far more common.
常見錯誤
precedent — verb
1. to act as the earlier case or event that later similar ones follow.
to act as the earlier case or event that later similar ones follow.
That 1994 circuit ruling precedented later online-speech appeals in the region.
transitive use: precedent + later appeals
The county's first noise ban precedented stricter bylaws in nearby towns.
The pilot entry program precedented the tighter border rules adopted later.
Across three campuses, one privacy code precedented the rules that followed.
The drought order precedented regional water limits, according to the agency memo.
- prefigure
suggests showing an early sign of something later
- foreshadow
often implies warning or suggestion, not later authority
- pave the way for
focuses on making later action possible
文法句型
precedent something
something is precedented by something
用法筆記
Extremely rare as a verb. Most writers prefer set a precedent for or serve as a precedent for instead of using the verb directly.
常見錯誤
2. to support a claim, rule, or decision by bringing in an earlier example.
to support a claim, rule, or decision by bringing in an earlier example.
The opening brief precedented the appeal with a 2019 privacy ruling.
precedent + object + with + ruling
The city attorney precedented the ordinance with last year's housing judgment.
The judge would not precedent the order with a case from another state.
The senior partner told Maya to precedent the tax claim with two tribunal decisions.
At oral argument, union counsel precedented the complaint with an earlier safety ruling.
- justify
broader and not limited to support from earlier cases
- support
everyday and wider in meaning
- substantiate
formal and stresses supplying evidence
- undermine
to weaken rather than support an argument or claim
文法句型
precedent something with something
precedent a claim with a case
用法筆記
Chiefly legal and extremely rare. It often takes an object followed by with plus an earlier case, ruling, or decision.