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
The short window from conception to recording set a precedent for their working relationship.
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Tom Roland, Billboard, 29 May 2025
The lawsuit's outcome may set a precedent for police hiring, promotion, and assignment practices in Cincinnati and beyond, affecting ongoing national debates about workplace fairness, affirmative action and the definition of merit.
—Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
The outcome could set a precedent for whether and how companies can use algorithms and artificial intelligence to make hiring decisions, as companies increasingly adopt the technology.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 22 May 2025
The outcome could set a precedent for how much input journalists ultimately have over how AI is used in their newsrooms.
—Kate Knibbs, Wired News, 22 May 2025
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Tom Roland, Billboard, 29 May 2025
The lawsuit's outcome may set a precedent for police hiring, promotion, and assignment practices in Cincinnati and beyond, affecting ongoing national debates about workplace fairness, affirmative action and the definition of merit.
—Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
The outcome could set a precedent for whether and how companies can use algorithms and artificial intelligence to make hiring decisions, as companies increasingly adopt the technology.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 22 May 2025
The outcome could set a precedent for how much input journalists ultimately have over how AI is used in their newsrooms.
—Kate Knibbs, Wired News, 22 May 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 5 Jun. 2025.
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