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

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This move aligns with the Swiss ethos of innovation and financial independence and could set a precedent for other nations. —

Susie Violet Ward, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025 McKinnon’s ban of Davidson set a precedent that the rest of the LPGA chose to follow in December, one month after Trump’s election victory. —

Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 24 Dec. 2024 Lincoln's order, however, set a precedent for observing Thanksgiving on the last Thursday in November. —

John Tufts, The Courier-Journal, 26 Nov. 2024 This correspondence with Slepian set a precedent for how investigative journalism and media would eventually play a crucial role in Velazquez’s exoneration. —

Abigail Glasgow, TIME, 22 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for set a precedent

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“Set a precedent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/set%20a%20precedent. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

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