noun
precedence
PREH-sihdns
noun
1
The condition of being more important or coming first in priority.
"Safety takes precedence over speed on this job site."
How to Use Precedence
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBeing first in importance or rank — what gets dealt with or considered first.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "precedent," a noun meaning an earlier case used as an example — "precedence" is about priority, "precedent" is about a past example.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
take precedence
order of precedence
Word Forms
precedences plural
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Safety takes _____ over speed on this job site.
Etymology
From French "précédence," built on "precede" plus the noun suffix "-ence."