HOW TO PRONOUNCE
precedent
/ˈpɹɛsɪdənt/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:47
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For the noun, begin with “press.”
Keep the first syllable strongest here. The c has an s sound, and the later vowels stay light rather than receiving equal stress.
3 syllables · Stress on syllable 1
TRY SAYING
“The opinion discusses an earlier precedent.”
APG practice sentence · CC BY-SA 4.0
CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗What does precedent mean?
noun
- An act in the past which may be used as an example to help decide the outcome of similar instances in the future.
- A decided case which is cited or used as an example to justify a judgment in a subsequent case.
- An established habit or custom.
More meanings (7)
noun
- The previous version.
- (obsolete) The aforementioned (thing).
- (obsolete) A rough draught of a writing which precedes a finished copy.
adjective
- Happening or taking place earlier in time; previous or preceding.
- (archaic) Coming before in a particular order or arrangement; preceding, foregoing.
verb
- To provide precedents for.
- To be a precedent for.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/ˈpɹɛsɪdənt/
Pronunciation used in the listening tip.
CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
Oh, it was a scandalous proceeding, when, according to all precedent, I should have gone trailing home with a broken wing.
The result, however, of this decision was to create a rivalry entirely without precedent between the different towns of these two States.
More book examples (3)
When he declined the exchange, but on the contrary presented the coveted article, he soon found he had established a dangerous precedent.
For all men that are not Subjects, are either Enemies, or else they have ceased from being so, by some precedent covenants.
It is interesting, now, to note how loyally Jameson and his several trained British military officers tried to make their battles conform to precedent.