precedence: Meaning and Definition of

prec•e•dence

Pronunciation: (pres'i-duns, pri-sēd'ns), [key]
— n.
  1. act or fact of preceding.
  2. the right to precede in order, rank, or importance; priority.
  3. the fact of preceding in time; antedating.
  4. the right to precede others in ceremonies or social formalities.
  5. the order to be observed in ceremonies by persons of different ranks, as by diplomatic protocol.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
See also: