superseding

Superseding is the act of replacing something that was previously in force with something newer or more authoritative. It is used to indicate that a prior rule, document, technology, or status has been displaced. The noun form is supersession, and the adjective superseding is used to describe the replacement.

In law, a superseding document replaces an earlier one. A superseding indictment, for example, is a new indictment that substitutes for an earlier one and may add charges or defendants. Superseding orders or regulations override previous provisions. In tort law, a superseding cause refers to an intervening act that breaks the chain of causation and can limit or eliminate liability.

In intellectual property and business practice, a later patent or regulatory standard may supersede an earlier patent or standard in terms of protection or requirements. In technology and everyday usage, software updates, product revisions, and policy reforms commonly supersede older versions, delivering new features or stricter rules.

Etymology and usage: Superseding derives from Latin roots via Old French, combining over with sit or yield; it was adopted into English to mean taking precedence over something previously in effect. The term is common in formal writing and tends to appear in contexts involving legal, regulatory, or technical change.