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A1 noun #7,000 más común 12 min de lectura

precedent

Top 7,000

Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos precedent en 30 segundos

Explicación precedent in your Level:

At the A1 level, think of a 'precedent' as a first-time rule. Imagine you are playing a game with friends. If you decide that 'red cards mean you lose a turn' for the first time, you have made a rule. Next time you play, your friends will expect that rule again. That first time is the precedent. It is like an example that everyone follows later. You can use it in simple sentences like 'This is the first time, so it is a precedent.' Even though it's a big word, the idea is simple: what we do now, we will do again later. It's about being fair and doing the same thing every time. If your teacher lets you eat in class once, that is a precedent. Next time, you will ask to eat again because of what happened before.

For A2 learners, a precedent is an earlier event that acts as a guide. It is more than just an example; it is an example that people use to make decisions. In your daily life, you might see this in school or at home. If your parents let your older brother stay out late, they set a precedent. This means they should probably let you stay out late too when you are the same age. It is a way to show that things are consistent. You will often hear the phrase 'set a precedent.' This means to do something that becomes a rule for the future. You can use it when talking about rules, hobbies, or even sports. For example, 'The team's win set a precedent for the rest of the season.'

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At the B1 level, you should understand 'precedent' as a formal way to talk about consistency in rules and actions. It is commonly used in business and social discussions. When a company makes a decision about a policy, they are often worried about the precedent it sets. If they give one person a raise for no reason, it sets a precedent that others will follow. This word helps you explain why people are careful about making exceptions. You should also learn the word 'unprecedented,' which means something has never happened before. For instance, 'The heatwave was unprecedented.' Using 'precedent' shows you understand that current actions have future consequences. It's a key word for discussing fairness and logic in a professional way.

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At the B2 level, 'precedent' becomes a crucial term for discussing law, politics, and historical analysis. You should understand that a precedent is a past action that serves as a 'standard' or 'benchmark.' In legal systems, especially in English-speaking countries, judges look at past cases (precedents) to decide current ones. This is called 'following precedent.' You might also 'break with precedent' if you decide to do something in a completely new way. This level of usage involves understanding that precedents can be 'dangerous' or 'helpful.' You can use it to build complex arguments, such as: 'While there is no direct precedent for this technology, we can look at similar historical shifts to predict its impact.' This shows a high level of critical thinking.

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For C1 learners, 'precedent' is an essential tool for nuanced academic and professional discourse. You should be comfortable discussing 'legal precedents,' 'binding precedents,' and 'historical precedents.' At this level, you understand that a precedent isn't just a rule, but a foundational element of systemic stability. You can discuss how precedents are established, challenged, and eventually overturned. You should also recognize the adjective 'precedential' and the noun 'precedence' (and the vital difference between them). In writing, you might use 'precedent' to analyze the long-term implications of a policy or a court ruling. For example, 'The court's decision established a precedential framework that would govern corporate liability for decades.' This demonstrates a deep grasp of how institutional logic functions over time.

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At the C2 level, 'precedent' is handled with total precision within specialized domains like constitutional law or high-level philosophy. You understand the doctrine of *stare decisis* (to stand by things decided) and how precedent functions as the backbone of common law jurisdictions. You can engage in sophisticated debates about when it is appropriate for a high court to 'depart from precedent' to reflect changing social values. You recognize that 'precedent' can also be a rhetorical device used to justify or criticize power. Your usage is flawless, distinguishing between 'persuasive precedent' and 'binding precedent.' You might use it in sentences like: 'The judicial activism displayed in the ruling represents a significant departure from long-standing constitutional precedent, potentially destabilizing the separation of powers.' This represents the pinnacle of professional English proficiency.

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Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos

precedent en 30 segundos

A precedent is a past event that serves as a guide or rule for future decisions in similar circumstances.
The word is most commonly used in legal, political, and corporate contexts to ensure consistency and fairness.
Setting a precedent means doing something for the first time that will be expected to be repeated later.
It is often confused with 'president' (a leader) or 'precedence' (priority), so careful spelling and usage are required.

The word precedent functions primarily as a noun that describes an event, action, or decision that happened in the past and now serves as a rule or a guide for how to handle similar situations in the present or future. Think of it as a 'trailblazer' in the world of rules and logic. When someone says they are 'setting a precedent,' they are acknowledging that what they do today will be expected of them, or others, tomorrow. This concept is fundamental to how societies maintain consistency and fairness, ensuring that similar cases are treated in similar ways. It is not just about doing something first; it is about that first action becoming a benchmark for everything that follows.

The Legal Foundation: In the world of law, a precedent is a previous court decision that judges are obliged to follow if the facts of the new case are sufficiently similar. This creates a predictable legal system where people can understand their rights based on what has already been decided.

The Supreme Court's ruling on civil rights established a powerful precedent that changed the nation's legal landscape forever.

Social and Professional Context: Outside of the courtroom, we use this word in business and daily life. If a manager allows one employee to work from home on Fridays, they have set a precedent. Other employees will now expect the same privilege, and it becomes difficult for the manager to say 'no' without appearing unfair.

Using the word 'precedent' correctly requires understanding the weight it carries. It implies a sense of obligation. If you follow a precedent, you are choosing the path of tradition and consistency. If you break a precedent, you are doing something radical and potentially controversial. It is a word often used by people in positions of authority—judges, politicians, CEOs, and parents—who are concerned with the long-term consequences of their current choices. By studying precedents, we learn from the past to make more informed decisions today. Whether it is a historical event like a peace treaty or a small family tradition like opening one gift on Christmas Eve, precedents provide the structural framework for our expectations.

By arriving late to the first meeting, he unintentionally set a bad precedent for the rest of the project's timeline.

Historical Significance: Historians look for precedents to explain why certain events occurred. For instance, the way a previous war ended might set the precedent for how future diplomatic negotiations are handled between those two nations.

There is no historical precedent for a global economy that functions entirely on digital currency.

The CEO was careful not to set a precedent by giving out bonuses during a low-revenue quarter.

Mastering the use of precedent involves understanding its common collocations and grammatical roles. Most frequently, it acts as the direct object of verbs like 'set,' 'establish,' 'follow,' or 'break.' It is a countable noun, meaning you can have 'a precedent' or 'multiple precedents.' When using it, you are often comparing a current action to a past one. For example, if you are in a debate, you might cite a precedent to prove that your current proposal is reasonable because it has worked before. Conversely, you might argue against a decision because it would 'set a dangerous precedent,' implying that while the action itself might seem small, the future consequences of everyone doing it would be disastrous.

Common Verb Pairings: The most common phrase is 'to set a precedent.' This means to do something for the first time that will then be used as a rule. 'To follow precedent' means to do what has been done before. 'To break with precedent' means to do something differently than it has been done in the past.

The committee decided to follow precedent and deny the application based on last year's criteria.

Adjective Modifiers: We often describe precedents using adjectives like 'legal,' 'historical,' 'dangerous,' 'binding,' or 'unfortunate.' A 'binding precedent' is one that must be followed by law, while a 'dangerous precedent' suggests a slippery slope into bad behavior.

Allowing the students to use AI for this essay could set a worrying precedent for academic integrity.

When writing formally, 'precedent' is a powerful tool for building arguments. It allows you to ground your claims in reality and history. In academic writing, you might discuss the 'lack of precedent' for a specific scientific phenomenon, which emphasizes the novelty of your research. In business, you might mention that 'company precedent' dictates how holiday pay is calculated. In every case, the word acts as a bridge between the 'was' and the 'is.' It asks the listener to consider the continuity of logic. If you are a student, using this word in your essays demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of cause and effect and an ability to analyze how rules are formed and maintained over time.

The judge searched the archives for a precedent that could help clarify the ambiguous statute.

Precedent vs. Precedence: Be careful not to confuse 'precedent' (an example) with 'precedence' (priority). If something 'takes precedence,' it is more important. If something 'is a precedent,' it is an example.

The existing legal precedent makes it very difficult for the plaintiff to win this specific case.

We must be careful; this decision will create a precedent that we might regret next year.

The word precedent is a staple of professional and intellectual discourse, but it also leaks into everyday conversations where fairness and rules are debated. You will most frequently encounter it in news reports concerning the judiciary. When the Supreme Court or a high-level tribunal makes a ruling, journalists will immediately discuss the 'landmark precedent' being set. This is because legal systems in many countries (like the US and UK) are built on 'Common Law,' which relies heavily on past decisions. In these contexts, the word is treated with great reverence, as it represents the stability of the entire legal order. If a precedent is 'overturned,' it is a massive news story because it signifies a fundamental shift in how the law is applied.

In Corporate Environments: In offices, you'll hear managers say, 'I don't want to set a precedent.' This is often their way of saying they are making an exception for you but don't want everyone else to expect the same thing. It is a word used to guard against the 'floodgates' opening to too many requests.

The HR director warned that paying for one employee's commute would set an expensive precedent.

In Political Debates: Politicians use the word to attack their opponents' actions. They might argue that a new policy 'violates long-standing democratic precedents.' Here, it refers to the unwritten rules of behavior that keep a government running smoothly.

Breaking the precedent of peaceful power transfer is a threat to any democracy.

Beyond these formal settings, you might hear 'precedent' in documentaries, especially those focusing on history or science. Narrators use it to frame discoveries. 'This discovery has no precedent in the field of biology,' they might say to emphasize how revolutionary a new finding is. It is also common in family dynamics, though perhaps used less formally. A parent might say, 'If I let your brother stay out until midnight, I'm setting a precedent for you.' In this way, the word captures the human instinct for fairness and the fear of creating 'slippery slopes.' Whether it's in a high-stakes court case or a simple household rule, 'precedent' is the word we use to talk about the 'why' behind our current standards of behavior.

The recent weather patterns are without precedent in the last century of record-keeping.

Academic Lectures: Professors use the term to help students link different eras. They might ask, 'What was the historical precedent for the industrial revolution?' to prompt students to look for earlier technological shifts.

The professor argued that there was no clear precedent for such a rapid cultural shift.

The lawyer argued that the 1994 case should serve as the primary precedent.

Even native speakers occasionally stumble when using precedent, primarily because it sounds similar to other common words and has a specific grammatical behavior. The most frequent error is confusing it with 'president.' While they sound almost identical in fast speech, a 'president' is a person who leads a country or organization, whereas a 'precedent' is a concept or an event. Writing 'The President of the United States set a new president' is a common typo that changes the meaning entirely. Another major confusion occurs between 'precedent' and 'precedence.' Although they share the same root, 'precedence' refers to the order of importance or priority (e.g., 'Safety takes precedence over speed'). 'Precedent' refers to a past example. You 'set a precedent,' but you 'give something precedence.'

Spelling and Pronunciation: The middle 'e' is often forgotten. It's PRE-CE-DENT. Many people accidentally spell it 'precident' or 'presedence.' To remember the spelling, think of the word 'precede' (to go before) and add '-nt.'

Incorrect: The judge followed the president set by the previous court. (Should be precedent).

Misusing 'Unprecedented': The adjective 'unprecedented' is often overused to describe things that are just 'big' or 'surprising.' For a situation to be truly unprecedented, there must literally be no prior example of it happening. Using it for every minor event weakens the word's impact.

Incorrect: This coffee is unprecedented! (Unless it's the first coffee ever made, this is an exaggeration).

Another mistake involves prepositions. People sometimes say 'precedent on' or 'precedent with.' The standard English preposition to follow 'precedent' is 'for.' You set a precedent FOR something. For example, 'The 2008 financial crisis set a precedent for future government bailouts.' Using the wrong preposition can make your writing feel clunky or non-native. Additionally, learners often struggle with the countability of the word. While it can be abstract, it is almost always used as a countable noun. You wouldn't say 'There is much precedent for this'; you would say 'There is a lot of precedent' or 'There are many precedents.' Keeping these nuances in mind will help you use the word with the precision required in professional and academic settings.

The lawyer argued that the case had no precedent in the state's legal history.

Pluralization Pitfalls: When referring to multiple past cases, ensure you use the plural 'precedents' rather than the singular. 'The judge reviewed several precedents before making his final decision.'

We must look at historical precedents to understand how to handle this current crisis.

The new policy established a precedent for all future employee contracts.

While precedent is a very specific term, there are several synonyms and related words that you can use depending on the context. Understanding the differences between these words will help you choose the most precise one for your needs. For general situations, words like 'example' or 'model' are common. However, 'precedent' implies a stronger connection to rules and future expectations than 'example' does. If you give someone an 'example,' you are just showing them one way to do things. If you set a 'precedent,' you are establishing the standard way things *must* be done from now on. This 'must' is the key difference that makes 'precedent' more formal and serious.

Precedent vs. Example: An 'example' is a sample of something. A 'precedent' is a sample that sets a rule. You can follow an example because you like it; you follow a precedent because you are often required to.

While his behavior was a good example, it didn't necessarily set a precedent for the whole team.

Precedent vs. Criterion: A 'criterion' is a principle or standard by which something may be judged. A 'precedent' is a specific past event that *becomes* a criterion. Precedents create criteria over time.

The historical precedent became the primary criterion for the new law's approval.

Other alternatives include 'benchmark,' 'standard,' and 'paradigm.' A 'benchmark' is a point of reference against which things may be compared or assessed. While a precedent is a benchmark, a benchmark doesn't have to be a past event; it could be a theoretical goal. 'Standard' is a more general term for an level of quality or attainment. 'Paradigm' is a very formal word used in science and philosophy to describe a typical example or pattern of something, often a whole way of thinking. Choosing 'precedent' specifically highlights the historical or legal weight of the past event. If you want to emphasize that something is a rule because it was done before, 'precedent' is your best choice.

The decision broke the existing precedent and established a new paradigm for environmental law.

Precedent vs. Tradition: Tradition is a custom passed down through generations. A precedent is a specific decision or event. Traditions are often made up of many precedents over a long period.

While it was a family tradition, there was no actual legal precedent to support their claim.

The court's earlier ruling serves as a vital precedent for this type of dispute.

How Formal Is It?

Dato curioso

The legal meaning of the word became dominant in the 15th century as the English legal system began to formalize the practice of following previous court decisions.

Guía de pronunciación

UK /ˈpresɪdənt/

US /ˈpresɪdənt/

The primary stress is on the first syllable: PRE-ce-dent.

Rima con

resident president evident hesitant relevant sediment element implement

Errores comunes

Pronouncing it like 'president' with a 'z' sound instead of an 's' sound.
Adding an extra syllable like 'pre-ce-dee-ent'.
Forgetting the 't' at the end.
Confusing the vowel sounds with 'precedence'.
Saying 'pre-SEED-ent' like the verb 'precede'.

Nivel de dificultad

Lectura 3/5

Common in news and formal texts, but the concept is easy to grasp.

Escritura 4/5

Requires correct spelling and understanding of specific collocations like 'set a precedent'.

Expresión oral 3/5

Clear pronunciation is needed to avoid confusion with 'president'.

Escucha 4/5

Can be easily confused with 'precedence' or 'president' in fast speech.

Qué aprender después

Requisitos previos

example rule before law decide

Aprende después

precedence stare decisis statute jurisdiction consequence

Avanzado

obiter dictum ratio decidendi jurisprudence codification litigation

Gramática que debes saber

Countable vs. Uncountable

You can say 'many precedents' but not 'much precedent'.

Prepositions with Precedent

Always use 'for' after 'precedent' (e.g., a precedent for future growth).

Gerunds as Objects

He was worried about setting (gerund) a precedent.

Adjective Placement

The 'legal' (adjective) precedent was clear.

Passive Voice in Law

A precedent was established (passive) by the court.

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Ejemplos por nivel

This is the first time, so it is a precedent.

C'est une première fois, c'est donc un précédent.

Simple subject-verb-complement structure.

He set a precedent by being early.

Il a créé un précédent en arrivant en avance.

Use of 'set a precedent' as a fixed phrase.

Is there a precedent for this rule?

Y a-t-il un précédent pour cette règle ?

Interrogative form with 'is there'.

We follow the precedent from last year.

Nous suivons le précédent de l'année dernière.

Present simple tense.

The teacher made a precedent today.

Le professeur a créé un précédent aujourd'hui.

Subject-verb-object.

I don't want to set a bad precedent.

Je ne veux pas créer un mauvais précédent.

Negative infinitive construction.

That precedent is very old.

Ce précédent est très ancien.

Adjective 'old' modifying the noun.

They used a precedent to decide.

Ils ont utilisé un précédent pour décider.

Past simple tense.

The judge looked for a precedent in the books.

Le juge a cherché un précédent dans les livres.

Prepositional phrase 'in the books'.

Establishing a precedent takes time.

Établir un précédent prend du temps.

Gerund 'establishing' as the subject.

There is no precedent for such a big storm.

Il n'y a pas de précédent pour une telle tempête.

Use of 'no' to negate the noun.

We should follow the precedent of our parents.

Nous devrions suivre le précédent de nos parents.

Modal verb 'should' for advice.

She broke the precedent by wearing jeans.

Elle a rompu le précédent en portant un jean.

Past tense of 'break'.

A good precedent helps everyone know the rules.

Un bon précédent aide tout le monde à connaître les règles.

Third-person singular 'helps'.

That event was an important precedent.

Cet événement était un précédent important.

Predicate nominative.

Can you find a precedent for this case?

Peux-tu trouver un précédent pour ce cas ?

Modal 'can' for ability.

The manager was afraid of setting a precedent for other employees.

Le manager avait peur de créer un précédent pour les autres employés.

Preposition 'of' followed by a gerund.

This decision will set a precedent that will affect us for years.

Cette décision créera un précédent qui nous affectera pendant des années.

Relative clause starting with 'that'.

Without a clear precedent, the committee struggled to agree.

Sans précédent clair, le comité a eu du mal à se mettre d'accord.

Introductory prepositional phrase.

The court's ruling established a binding precedent.

La décision du tribunal a établi un précédent contraignant.

Adjective 'binding' meaning mandatory.

Is there any historical precedent for this kind of tax?

Existe-t-il un précédent historique pour ce genre de taxe ?

Adjective 'historical' modifying 'precedent'.

They decided to break with precedent and hire a younger CEO.

Ils ont décidé de rompre avec le précédent et d'embaucher un PDG plus jeune.

Idiom 'break with precedent'.

The case is unique and lacks any known precedent.

L'affaire est unique et ne comporte aucun précédent connu.

Verb 'lacks' indicating absence.

The precedent set by the 1960s civil rights movement is still relevant.

Le précédent établi par le mouvement des droits civiques des années 1960 est toujours d'actualité.

Passive participle 'set' modifying 'precedent'.

The lawyer argued that the previous ruling should serve as a precedent.

L'avocat a soutenu que la décision précédente devrait servir de précédent.

Reported speech with 'argued that'.

Allowing this exception could set a dangerous precedent for future projects.

Autoriser cette exception pourrait créer un précédent dangereux pour les projets futurs.

Conditional 'could' for possibility.

The company’s policy is based on several long-standing precedents.

La politique de l'entreprise est basée sur plusieurs précédents de longue date.

Compound adjective 'long-standing'.

Critics claim the new law creates an unfortunate precedent for privacy.

Les critiques affirment que la nouvelle loi crée un précédent malheureux pour la vie privée.

Adjective 'unfortunate' expressing opinion.

There is ample precedent for the government to intervene in such cases.

Il existe de nombreux précédents permettant au gouvernement d'intervenir dans de tels cas.

Adjective 'ample' meaning plenty.

The scientist noted that there was no scientific precedent for the phenomenon.

Le scientifique a noté qu'il n'y avait aucun précédent scientifique pour ce phénomène.

Noun phrase 'scientific precedent'.

By resigning, he set a precedent that other ministers might follow.

En démissionnant, il a créé un précédent que d'autres ministres pourraient suivre.

Introductory gerund phrase 'By resigning'.

The treaty provided a precedent for future international cooperation.

Le traité a fourni un précédent pour la future coopération internationale.

Verb 'provided' meaning gave.

The court was reluctant to overturn such a well-established precedent.

Le tribunal était réticent à infirmer un précédent aussi bien établi.

Adjective 'reluctant' followed by infinitive.

The case is being watched closely because of the precedent it might establish.

L'affaire est suivie de près en raison du précédent qu'elle pourrait établir.

Passive voice 'is being watched'.

The decision was made in total disregard of historical precedent.

La décision a été prise au mépris total du précédent historique.

Phrase 'in total disregard of'.

Legal scholars debate whether this ruling constitutes a binding precedent.

Les experts juridiques débattent pour savoir si cette décision constitue un précédent contraignant.

Indirect question with 'whether'.

The unprecedented nature of the crisis forced the leaders to set new precedents.

La nature sans précédent de la crise a obligé les dirigeants à créer de nouveaux précédents.

Juxtaposition of 'unprecedented' and 'precedents'.

The precedent set here will resonate throughout the entire industry.

Le précédent établi ici aura des répercussions dans toute l'industrie.

Future tense with 'will resonate'.

They argued that the absence of precedent should not preclude a fair judgment.

Ils ont soutenu que l'absence de précédent ne devrait pas empêcher un jugement équitable.

Verb 'preclude' meaning prevent.

The ruling was criticized for lacking any clear precedential value.

La décision a été critiquée pour son absence de toute valeur de précédent claire.

Adjective 'precedential'.

The doctrine of stare decisis ensures that precedents are not discarded lightly.

La doctrine du stare decisis garantit que les précédents ne sont pas écartés à la légère.

Specialized legal terminology.

A radical departure from precedent could destabilize the entire legal framework.

Une rupture radicale avec le précédent pourrait déstabiliser tout le cadre juridique.

Abstract noun 'departure'.

The appellate court sought to harmonize the conflicting precedents of lower courts.

La cour d'appel a cherché à harmoniser les précédents contradictoires des tribunaux inférieurs.

Verb 'harmonize' in a legal context.

One must distinguish between persuasive precedent and that which is truly binding.

Il faut distinguer entre le précédent persuasif et celui qui est véritablement contraignant.

Formal 'One must' construction.

The legislative changes were designed to circumvent the existing judicial precedent.

Les modifications législatives ont été conçues pour contourner le précédent judiciaire existant.

Verb 'circumvent' meaning bypass.

The historical precedent cited by the defense was deemed inapplicable to the current facts.

Le précédent historique cité par la défense a été jugé inapplicable aux faits actuels.

Passive voice 'was deemed'.

The sheer volume of precedents makes the task of legal research incredibly daunting.

Le volume considérable de précédents rend la tâche de recherche juridique incroyablement intimidante.

Noun phrase 'sheer volume'.

The evolution of the law is a slow process of building upon and refining precedents.

L'évolution du droit est un processus lent qui consiste à s'appuyer sur les précédents et à les affiner.

Parallel gerund phrases.

Sinónimos

example model standard criterion pattern exemplar

Antónimos

innovation originality novelty

Colocaciones comunes

set a precedent

follow precedent

break with precedent

legal precedent

historical precedent

binding precedent

dangerous precedent

without precedent

cite a precedent

lack of precedent

Frases Comunes

set a dangerous precedent

— To do something that might lead to bad results if others copy it.

Giving him a pass on the exam sets a dangerous precedent.

unprecedented success

— A level of success that has never been achieved before.

The movie enjoyed unprecedented success at the box office.

shatter precedent

— To completely break away from established rules or traditions in a dramatic way.

The new policy shattered precedent in the banking industry.

long-standing precedent

— A rule or example that has been followed for a very long time.

It is a long-standing precedent in our family to eat together on Sundays.

lack precedent

— To have no previous example to follow.

This complex situation lacks any clear precedent.

overturn a precedent

— To officially decide that a previous rule or decision is no longer valid.

The court overturned a 50-year-old precedent today.

search for a precedent

— To look for past examples to help make a decision.

I'm searching for a precedent to justify this budget increase.

contrary to precedent

— Doing something that goes against established examples.

His behavior was entirely contrary to precedent.

establish a precedent

— To create a new rule or example for the first time.

The treaty established a precedent for future peace talks.

rely on precedent

— To use past examples as the main basis for a decision.

In this office, we rely on precedent to handle complaints.

Se confunde a menudo con

precedent vs president

A leader of a country. Sounds very similar but refers to a person.

precedent vs precedence

Refers to priority or being more important. You 'give precedence' to something.

precedent vs proceed

A verb meaning to continue. It sounds like the first part of precedent.

Modismos y expresiones

"a precedent-setting move"

— An action that is likely to be used as a rule in the future.

The CEO's resignation was a precedent-setting move for the company.

professional

"breaking the mold"

— Doing something in a completely new way, often related to breaking precedent.

She is really breaking the mold with her new art style.

informal

"blazing a trail"

— Doing something new that others will follow (similar to setting a precedent).

The startup is blazing a trail in green energy.

neutral

"opening the floodgates"

— Setting a precedent that leads to a massive number of similar requests or events.

Allowing one exception might open the floodgates for everyone.

informal

"a slippery slope"

— The idea that setting one small precedent will lead to a series of worse events.

Ignoring this rule is a slippery slope to chaos.

neutral

"the first of its kind"

— Something that has no precedent.

This engine is the first of its kind.

neutral

"standing on the shoulders of giants"

— Using the precedents and work of those who came before to achieve more.

Our research is standing on the shoulders of giants.

formal

"a new chapter"

— A situation where old precedents are left behind for a new start.

This election marks a new chapter for the country.

neutral

"treading new ground"

— Doing something without any prior precedent.

In this experiment, we are treading new ground.

neutral

"reinventing the wheel"

— Trying to create a new way of doing something when a perfectly good precedent already exists.

Don't reinvent the wheel; just use the old template.

informal

Fácil de confundir

precedent vs President

Phonetic similarity.

President is a person (leader); Precedent is a thing (an example).

The President followed the legal precedent.

precedent vs Precedence

Same root word.

Precedence is about priority (what comes first in importance); Precedent is about a past example.

Safety takes precedence, but we have no precedent for this safety drill.

precedent vs Antecedent

Similar meaning of 'coming before'.

Antecedent is more general and often used in grammar; Precedent is specifically about a guiding example.

The pronoun's antecedent was 'precedent'.

precedent vs Example

Synonymous meaning.

An example is just one instance; a precedent is an instance that becomes a rule.

This is a good example, but it doesn't set a precedent.

precedent vs Standard

Both involve rules.

A standard is a level of quality; a precedent is a historical event that created that level.

The precedent set the new standard for the industry.

Patrones de oraciones

This is a [adjective] precedent.

This is a new precedent.

They set a precedent for [noun].

They set a precedent for the game.

I don't want to set a precedent by [gerund].

I don't want to set a precedent by leaving early.

The [noun] established a [adjective] precedent.

The ruling established a binding precedent.

Contrary to [adjective] precedent, the [noun] [verb].

Contrary to historical precedent, the economy grew.

The doctrine of [noun] dictates that [noun] follow precedent.

The doctrine of stare decisis dictates that judges follow precedent.

There is no precedent for [noun].

There is no precedent for this behavior.

The case lacks any [adjective] precedent.

The case lacks any clear precedent.

Familia de palabras

Sustantivos

precedent

precedence

unprecedentedness

Verbos

precede

Adjetivos

precedential

unprecedented

preceding

Relacionado

antecedent

priority

example

standard

ruling

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Cómo usarlo

frequency

Common in professional, legal, and academic English.

Errores comunes

Using 'president' instead of 'precedent'. → The judge followed the precedent.
A president is a person; a precedent is a rule or example.
Using 'precedence' to mean 'example'. → This sets a new precedent.
Precedence means priority, not example.
Saying 'precedent on'. → There is no precedent for this.
The correct preposition is 'for'.
Using 'precedent' as a verb. → This will set a precedent.
Precedent is a noun, not a verb.
Spelling it 'precident'. → Precedent.
It follows the spelling of 'precede'.

Consejos

Use with 'Set'

The most natural way to use this word is with the verb 'set'. 'Set a precedent' is a very common collocation.

Check the Middle

Remember the middle is '-ced-', not '-sid-'. Think of 'precede'.

Unprecedented

Learn the adjective 'unprecedented' at the same time. It's used even more often than the noun in news.

Legal Context

In a legal essay, always mention if the precedent is from a higher or lower court.

Think of Fairness

When you use 'precedent', you are usually making an argument about fairness and consistency.

Don't confuse with President

The 's' sound is key. Precedent (s sound), President (z sound).

Dangerous Precedent

Use 'dangerous precedent' when you want to warn someone about the future consequences of a current action.

Professional Tone

This is a great word for business emails to explain why a request is being denied.

Historical Context

Use 'historical precedent' when comparing modern events to the past.

Preposition 'For'

Always remember: a precedent FOR something, not OF or ON.

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

Precedent = PRE (before) + CEDENT (event). It's the event that came before.

Asociación visual

Imagine a judge looking at a dusty old book to decide a new case. The book represents the precedent.

Word Web

Law Rules History Example Future Fairness Consistency Decision

Desafío

Try to use the word 'precedent' in a sentence about a rule in your house or office today.

Origen de la palabra

From the Latin word 'praecedent-', the present participle of 'praecedere', which means 'to go before'. It entered Middle English via the Old French word 'precedent'.

Significado original: Originally, it simply meant 'something that goes before' in time or order.

Latinate / Romance via French.

Contexto cultural

Be careful when using 'unprecedented' during global crises; some may find it cliché or overused.

The phrase 'set a precedent' is extremely common in English office culture to justify saying 'no' to unusual requests.

Roe v. Wade (a famous overturned precedent) The tradition of a US President serving only two terms (started as a precedent by George Washington) The Magna Carta (a historical precedent for constitutional law)

Practica en la vida real

Contextos reales

Law Court

binding precedent
overturn a precedent
cite a precedent
judicial precedent

Business Meeting

set a precedent
company precedent
against precedent
follow the precedent

History Class

historical precedent
lack of precedent
without precedent
establish a precedent

Parenting

set a bad precedent
family precedent
break with precedent
no precedent for this

News Reporting

unprecedented event
landmark precedent
shatter precedent
dangerous precedent

Inicios de conversación

"Do you think it's important to always follow precedent in your job?"

"Can you think of a time you set a precedent in your family?"

"Is there a historical precedent for the current political situation?"

"Why are people often afraid of setting a new precedent?"

"Should judges always be bound by legal precedents from the past?"

Temas para diario

Describe a time you broke with precedent and did something completely new. How did people react?

Write about a 'dangerous precedent' you think society is currently setting.

If you could set one new precedent for your workplace, what would it be and why?

Reflect on a family tradition. Was there a specific event that set the precedent for it?

Discuss whether you prefer to follow established precedents or blaze your own trail.

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

It means to do something for the first time that will then be used as a rule or example for others in the future. For example, if a teacher lets one student use a phone, they set a precedent for the whole class.

Yes, it is a very important legal term. It refers to a previous court decision that judges must follow in similar cases. This ensures the law is consistent.

It is pronounced PRE-ce-dent. The first syllable rhymes with 'press'. Do not use a 'z' sound like in 'president'.

Precedent is a past example (e.g., 'set a precedent'). Precedence is priority (e.g., 'safety takes precedence').

Yes, people often talk about 'setting a bad precedent' or a 'dangerous precedent'. This means the first action was a mistake and will lead to more mistakes if followed.

It means something has never happened before. There is no precedent for it. It is often used to describe major news events.

You can say: 'The judge followed the precedent set by the earlier case.' or 'There is no precedent for this kind of weather.'

Yes, you can have one precedent or many precedents. It is a countable noun.

A binding precedent is a past court decision that a lower court *must* follow. It is not optional.

Yes, a high court can 'overturn' or 'break with' a precedent if they believe the old rule was wrong or is no longer useful.

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