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
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.
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Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 28 Nov. 2025
The case also highlights the evolving legal landscape for digital commerce, and could set a precedent for how ultra-fast fashion platforms operate in Europe.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 19 Nov. 2025
The league set a precedent earlier this season that spitting would cost a player one game.
—Matt Schooley, CBS News, 17 Nov. 2025
The outcome could set a precedent for how far courts can go in easing logistical burdens on defendants in sensitive-information cases without compromising government secrecy.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
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Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 28 Nov. 2025
The case also highlights the evolving legal landscape for digital commerce, and could set a precedent for how ultra-fast fashion platforms operate in Europe.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 19 Nov. 2025
The league set a precedent earlier this season that spitting would cost a player one game.
—Matt Schooley, CBS News, 17 Nov. 2025
The outcome could set a precedent for how far courts can go in easing logistical burdens on defendants in sensitive-information cases without compromising government secrecy.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 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 4 Dec. 2025.
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