precedent

adj. preceding, earlier; prior, previous; having priority

n. previous legal decision serving as an authoritative rule, authoritative example; model, standard, example

In common law legal systems, a precedent or authority is a legal case establishing a principle or rule that a court or other judicial body adopts when deciding subsequent cases with similar issues or facts.
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Noun
1. an example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a later time
(synonym) case in point
(hypernym) example, illustration, instance, representative
(derivation) predate, precede, forego, antecede, antedate
2. (civil law) a law established by following earlier judicial decisions
(synonym) case law, common law
(hypernym) civil law
(classification) civil law
(class) service
3. a system of jurisprudence based on judicial precedents rather than statutory laws; "common law originated in the unwritten laws of England and was later applied in the United States"
(synonym) common law, case law
(hypernym) law, jurisprudence
(classification) law, jurisprudence
4. a subject mentioned earlier (preceding in time)
(hypernym) subject, topic, theme
(derivation) precede, predate
Adjective
1. preceding in time, order, or significance
(similar) preceding(a)

adj. previous, former, before; precedent, prior, antecedent; late, preceding

n. precedent, previous legal decision serving as an authoritative rule, model

v. be in the front, precede, predate; antedate, forerun, forego

n. precedent