precedent

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun an example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a later time
  2. noun (civil law) a law established by following earlier judicial decisions
  3. noun a system of jurisprudence based on judicial precedents rather than statutory laws

Etymology

From Middle French, from Old French, from Latin praecēdēns, present participle of praecēdere (“to precede”); See precede.

In classic literature

Synonyms

case in point

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