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precedent
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/ˈpresɪdənt/ 
| singular | precedent |
| plural | precedents |
- 1[countable/uncountable] an action or event in the past that is used as an example or reason for a present action or eventprecedent for:
There are good precedents for this sort of cooperation between organizations.
set/establish/create a precedent:Arab states condemned the plan, regarding it as setting a dangerous precedent.
without precedent:This is disturbing news and totally without precedent.
phrase
break with precedent
or depart from precedent
This is the British English definition of precedent. View American English definition of precedent.
Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to American English.
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