precedency

US: (pres′i dən sē, pri sēd′n sē)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

prec•e•den•cy  (pres′i dən sē, pri sēd′n sē), n., pl. -cies. 

1. precedence.

• preced(ence) + -ency 1590–1600

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

prec•e•dence /ˈprɛsɪdəns, prɪˈsidəns/   n. [uncountable]

1. the act or fact of preceding.
2. the right to be dealt with or placed before others because of order, rank, or importance:
   This problem takes precedence over all the others.

See -cede-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

prec•e•dence  (pres′i dəns, pri sēd′ns), 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.

• preced(ent) + -ence 1475–85

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

precedence / ˈprɛsɪdəns/, precedency noun

1. the act of preceding or the condition of being precedent
2. the ceremonial order or priority to be observed by persons of different stations on formal occasions: the officers are seated according to precedence
3. a right to preferential treatment: I take precedence over you