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Prerequisite vs Precedent - What's the difference?

prerequisite | precedent |

As adjectives the difference between prerequisite and precedent

is that prerequisite is required as a prior condition of something else; necessary or indispensable while precedent is happening or taking place earlier in time; previous or preceding.

As nouns the difference between prerequisite and precedent

is that prerequisite is something that must be gained in order to gain something else while precedent is an act in the past which may be used as an example to help decide the outcome of similar instances in the future.

As a verb precedent is

to provide precedents for.

prerequisite

English

Adjective

(-)
  • Required as a prior condition of something else; necessary or indispensable.

    • Synonyms

    * See also

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Something that must be gained in order to gain something else
    • Having a decent qualification is a prerequisite to getting a good job in marketing.
  • In education, a course or topic that must be completed before another course or topic can be started. May be colloquially referred to as a prereq .
    • Algebra is typically a prerequisite for physics .

    Related terms

    * corequisite

    precedent

    English

    (wikipedia precedent)

    Alternative forms

    * (archaic)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An act in the past which may be used as an example to help decide the outcome of similar instances in the future.
  • * Hooker
    • Examples for cases can but direct as precedents only.
  • (legal) A decided case which is cited or used as an example to justify a judgment in a subsequent case.
  • (obsolete, with definite article) The aforementioned (thing).
  • *, New York 2001, p.74:
    • A third argument may be derived from the precedent .
  • The previous version.
  • (obsolete) A rough draught of a writing which precedes a finished copy.
    • (Shakespeare)

    Derived terms

    * binding precedent * declaratory precedent * original precedent * persuasive precedent * precedented * precedential * precedent-setting * precedent sub silentio * unprecedented

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Happening or taking place earlier in time; previous or preceding.
  • *, III.2.1.i:
    • In the precedent section mention was made, amongst other pleasant objects, of this comeliness and beauty which proceeds from women […].

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (legal) To provide precedents for.
  • (legal) To be a precedent for.

    • See also

    * stare decisis ----