edict

noun

ˈē-ˌdikt 

1

: a proclamation having the force of law

2

: order, command

we held firm to Grandmother's edict

—M. F. K. Fisher

edictal

i-ˈdik-tᵊl 

adjective

Did you know?

Edicts are few and far between in a democracy, since very few important laws can be made by a president or prime minister acting alone. But when a crisis arose in the Roman Republic, the senate would appoint a dictator, who would have the power to rule by edict. The idea was that the dictator could make decisions quickly, issuing his edicts faster than the senate could act. When the crisis was over, the edicts were canceled and the dictator usually retired from public life. Things are different today: dictators almost always install themselves in power, and they never give it up.

Synonyms

• bull
• decree
• diktat
• directive
• fiat
• rescript
• ruling
• ukase

Examples of edict in a Sentence

The government issued an edict banning public demonstrations.

the school board's edict put a new student dress code into effect

Recent Examples on the Web

Top clergy have issued fatwas, or edicts, on how to rein in climate change. —Sui-Lee Wee Ulet Ifansasti, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2024

That leaves more than 100 million people, and not all of them are inclined to dutifully obey the edicts of public-health officials. —Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin edictum, from neuter of edictus, past participle of edicere to decree, from e- + dicere to say — more at diction

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

edict

noun

ˈē-ˌdikt 

: a law or order made or given by an authority (as a ruler)

edictal

i-ˈdik-tᵊl 

adjective