precedent

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

There was a desire to set a precedent and avoid perceptions that Fernandez, one of the squad's senior figures, had received preferential treatment.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

“We try to interpret American law with American precedent based on American history,” the justice told Sauer.

From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026

“While McCormick’s M&A track record is a positive precedent, the scale of this potential transaction represents a substantially greater order of magnitude,” Powers wrote on Tuesday.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

Their reasoning appeared to largely rest on historical precedent: When stocks retreat due to a geopolitical shock, they often recover within a matter of weeks, if not days.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 30, 2026

We defined the issues in terms of developing legal doctrine and establishing legal precedent; our clients became important, but secondary, players in a formal arena that required lawyers to translate lay claims into technical speech.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander