precedent

adjective

pri-ˈsē-dᵊnt How to pronounce precedent (audio)
Definition of precedentnext
as in previous
going before another in time or order behavior that may be explained by a precedent event in her troubled life

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of precedent Judge Barrett did not entirely embrace the notion of super-precedent. — Jonathan Turley, WSJ, 15 Oct. 2020 These tools can generate a first-draft NDA within seconds by drawing on vast training libraries of precedent agreements and current market standards. — Allbusiness, Forbes.com, 18 Mar. 2026 This adaptation demands re-conceiving large chunks of plot from the ground-up while retaining Liu’s themes, not to mention visualizing concepts with less precedent onscreen than the fantasy tropes Martin deployed and subverted. — Alison Herman, Variety, 9 Mar. 2024 Even when Disney brought back Ortega for their Descendants franchise in 2015 — a film about the children of Disney villains — IP took precedent time and time again above the story. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 24 Jan. 2026 Their protections may have been further eroded with a precedent decision recently in which the Board of Immigration Appeals determined that DACA status alone is not enough to stop deportation. — Hallie Golden, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precedent
previous
Adjective
  • The changes allow stocks to be eligible to join the index 15 days after an IPO, compared to a previous wait period of at least three months.
    — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
  • Prior to the Balogun gift, the only previous time a World Cup red card was nullified during the tournament was in 1962 when FIFA overturned the suspension of Brazil star Garrincha.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 7 July 2026
Definition of previous

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precedences
precedent
precedes
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Cite this Entry

“Precedent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precedent. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on precedent

Nglish: Translation of precedent for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about precedent

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