Going before in time; anterior; antecedent; as precedent services; a precedent fault of the will. The world, or any part thereof, could not be precedent to the creation of man. A precedent condition, in law, is a condition which must happen or be performed before an estate or some right can vest, and on failure of which the estate or right is defeated.

Something done or said, that may serve or be adduced as an example to authorize a subsequent act of the like kind. Examples for cases can but direct as precedents only.

In law, a judicial decision, interlocutory or final, which serves as a rule for future determinations in similar or analogous cases; or any proceeding or course of proceedings which may serve for a rule insubsequent cases of a like nature.