legal precedent
nounUK /ˈliː.ɡəl ˈpres.ɪ.dənt/
US /ˈliː.ɡəl ˈpres.ə.dənt/
A legal precedent is a past court decision that judges use as a guide when deciding new cases.
The lawyer cited a legal precedent from a similar case to support her argument.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A previous event or action that serves as an example or guide for later situations.
The company's early success set a legal precedent for how startups handle contracts.
3. A rule or principle established by a court that lower courts must follow.
The Supreme Court's ruling became a legal precedent that all state courts had to obey.
4. The body of law created by judges through their decisions rather than by statutes.
Much of English law is based on legal precedent developed over centuries.