precedent Synonyms
Another word for precedent
• noun (Context 1)
An earlier event, action, or decision that serves as an example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances.
"Allowing one employee to work remotely full-time could set a model for the entire department."
• noun (Context 2)
A previous judicial decision or legal case that establishes a principle or rule binding or persuasive for a court when deciding subsequent cases with similar issues or facts.
"The defense attorney cited a century-old Supreme Court ruling to support the motion for dismissal."
• adjective (Context 3)
Preceding in time, order, or importance (now used chiefly postpositively in legal phrases such as 'condition precedent').
"Obtaining regulatory approval is a condition preceding to closing the corporate merger."
Opposites of precedent
The opposite of precedent shifts depending on context. Common opposites include: