precedency

/ˈpɹɛsɪdənsi/

//ˈpɹɛsɪdənsi// noun

"precedency" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“precedency” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
10
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - Precedence; superiority.

Corpus desk

Index EN-precedency · precedency · English

precedency · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-MEGA 10 letters
  • VOW-4 4 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "P" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for precedency
PropertyValue
Headwordprecedency
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈpɹɛsɪdənsi/
Letters10
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “precedency” in English

precedencyranks outside the top 100,000 English headwords, in the long tail of specialist, archaic, or seldom-used vocabulary, exactly the territory where a reader stops mid-sentence to double-check spelling.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

precedency is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈpɹɛsɪdənsi/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.

Our edit-distance generator produced no likely misspellings for precedency, and the word's spelling is regular enough that our generator found nothing worth flagging. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Etymologically, the entry records: From precedent + -ency. The correct English form is precedency, spelled P-R-E-C-E-D-E-N-C-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    Precedence; superiority.
  2. 2
    The fact of serving as a precedent.

Recorded use

Wiktionary example

These source excerpts show how precedency appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. Archimedes master of this Science, and who in truth and certaintie assumeth unto himselfe a precedencie above all others, saith, the Sunne is a God of enflamed yron.

Etymology

From precedent + -ency.

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "precedency"?
"precedency" is spelled P-R-E-C-E-D-E-N-C-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈpɹɛsɪdənsi/.
What does "precedency" mean?
As a noun, "precedency" means: Precedence; superiority.
How do you pronounce "precedency"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "precedency" is /ˈpɹɛsɪdənsi/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "precedency"?
From precedent + -ency. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list