set a precedent
idiom
: to decide something that will be used as an example or rule to be followed in the future
The ruling in the case is likely to set a precedent for how future cases are decided.
Examples of set a precedent in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Approving this project could set a precedent that could allow other private projects to use public resources elsewhere, others said.
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Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 16 Dec. 2025
With watchdog groups pressing for disclosure and Trump urging Judge Aileen Cannon to keep the report sealed, the ruling will set a precedent shaping government accountability, the balance of executive power, and how future investigations of high-ranking officials are documented and released.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
But the committee has set a precedent that a team like the Rebels could be dropped from the field.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 2 Dec. 2025
Open government advocates warn that siding with the college’s interpretation of Sunshine Law could set a precedent limiting public access to government meeting information.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 28 Nov. 2025
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Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 16 Dec. 2025
With watchdog groups pressing for disclosure and Trump urging Judge Aileen Cannon to keep the report sealed, the ruling will set a precedent shaping government accountability, the balance of executive power, and how future investigations of high-ranking officials are documented and released.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
But the committee has set a precedent that a team like the Rebels could be dropped from the field.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 2 Dec. 2025
Open government advocates warn that siding with the college’s interpretation of Sunshine Law could set a precedent limiting public access to government meeting information.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 28 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for set a precedent
Cite this Entry
“Set a precedent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/set%20a%20precedent. Accessed 25 Dec. 2025.
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