noun
- previous cases or instances that serve as examples or rules for future similar situations
Usage: plural of precedent
Examples
- The court relied on legal precedents from similar cases.
- Historical precedents suggest this policy will be effective.
- The company set dangerous precedents by ignoring safety rules.
- These precedents will guide future business decisions.
- The judge cited several precedents to support her ruling.
- Without clear precedents, the committee had to make a difficult choice.