set a precedent

Meaning

To establish a decision, action, or rule that will be used as an example or guide for future, similar situations. It is commonly used in legal, policy, and management discussions.

Examples

• Allowing remote work for one employee might set a precedent for the entire department.

  Allowing remote work for one employee might set a precedent for the entire department.

• The court's ruling on the copyright case will set a precedent for all future digital media disputes.

  The court's ruling on the copyright case will set a precedent for all future digital media disputes.

• We must be careful with this refund; we don't want to set a precedent of giving money back without a receipt.

  We must be careful with this refund; we don't want to set a precedent of giving money back without a receipt.

• By promoting her early, the company set a precedent that hard work is rewarded quickly.

  By promoting her early, the company set a precedent that hard work is rewarded quickly.

• The manager refused to make an exception because she feared it would set a precedent.

  The manager refused to make an exception because she feared it would set a precedent.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ This decision will make a precedent for other teams.

  ✓ This decision will set a precedent for other teams.

  The correct collocation is 'set a precedent', not 'make a precedent'.

• ✗ We don't want to set a president of working late every weekend.

  ✓ We don't want to set a precedent of working late every weekend.

  Do not confuse 'precedent' (an earlier event used as an example) with 'president' (the leader of an organization or country).

Related Expressions

Practice

• If we let them submit the report late now, it will ___ for future projects.

  💡 Establish an example that others will expect us to follow.

  Show answer

  set a precedent

• The HR department is worried that this policy change might ___.

  💡 Create a standard pattern for future situations.

  Show answer

  set a precedent