precedent

Academic Word List, sublist 6.

About 4.68 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. noun An act in the past which may be used as an example to help decide the outcome of similar instances in the future.
2. noun A decided case which is cited or used as an example to justify a judgment in a subsequent case.
3. noun An established habit or custom.
4. noun The aforementioned (thing).
5. noun The previous version.
6. noun A rough draught of a writing which precedes a finished copy.
7. adjective Happening or taking place earlier in time; previous or preceding. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
8. adjective Coming before in a particular order or arrangement; preceding, foregoing.

Similar words

preceding case in point case law common law predecessor precedence foregoing previous prelude prev

Often followed by

for to in of and that is was which

Word family

precede preceded precedence precedented precedenting precedents precedes preceding