An act in the past which may be used as an example to help decide the outcome of similar instances in the future.

Happening or taking place earlier in time; previous or preceding. / (now rare) Coming before in a particular order or arrangement; preceding, foregoing.

(transitive, law) To provide precedents for. / (transitive, law) To be a precedent for.

plural of precedent

Third-person singular simple present indicative form of precedent

(rare, chiefly law) Having a precedent; not novel

(rare) simple past tense and past participle of precedent

present participle of precedent

beforehand; antecedently

The state of preceding in importance or priority. / Precedent.