decree

noun de·cree \ di-ˈkrē \

|Updated on: 14 Jun 2018

Examples: decree in a Sentence

Definition of decree

1 : an order usually having the force of law

a judicial decree

by royal decree

2 a : a religious ordinance enacted by council or titular head

a papal decree

b : a foreordaining will

God's decree

3 a : a judicial decision of the Roman emperor

b : a judicial decision especially in an equity (see equity 3a) court or probate court

See decree defined for English-language learners

See decree defined for kids

Examples of decree in a Sentence

The President issued a decree making the day a national holiday.
Their marriage was annulled by judicial decree.

Recent Examples of decree from the Web

The report raised questions about whether Zuckerberg misled Congress in testimony this year, and whether the company was in violation of its decree with the Federal Trade Commission to obtain consent from users about how their information is shared.

— stephanie bodoni and ben brody, latimes.com, "Facebook's latest data lapse draws critique from lawmakers: 'Sure looks like Zuckerberg lied to Congress'," 4 June 2018
The decree barred Facebook from overriding users' privacy settings without first getting explicit consent.

— Anchorage Daily News, "Facebook gave device makers deep access to data on users and friends," 4 June 2018
When the kingdom issued its royal decree last year announcing that women would be allowed to drive in 2018, women’s rights activists were contacted by the royal court and warned against giving interviews to the media or speaking out on social media.

— aya batrawy, BostonGlobe.com, "Arrested Saudi activists held incommunicado since last week," 22 May 2018
Friday’s hearing, before U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar, is the first on the police reform agreement between Baltimore and the U.S. Department of Justice since Bredar signed the decree last year.

— kevin rector, baltimoresun.com, "First court hearing since beginning of Baltimore Police consent decree scheduled Friday morning," 13 Apr. 2018
Pugh’s elevation of Deputy Commissioner Gary Tuggle to interim commissioner makes Tuggle the third commissioner to lead the department since the year-old decree was signed.

— kevin rector, baltimoresun.com, "Consent decree reforms progressing despite leadership shake-up, Baltimore Police officials say," 23 May 2018
Monitoring and Enforcement Provisions ensuring that the people most affected by police violence will monitor and enforce the decree.

— monique judge, The Root, "Community Groups Finalize Consent Decree Demands for Chicago Police Department," 15 May 2018
Vulto and his cheese-making company consented to the court decree filed March 30 without admitting or denying allegations by the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of the federal Food and Drug Administration.

— kevin mccoy, USA TODAY, "Federal court shuts NY cheese facility linked to Listeria outbreak that killed two," 3 Apr. 2018
According to a nationally representative poll by Harris Interactive, 58% of French people are opposed to the decrees the government unveiled Thursday.

— william horobin, WSJ, "French Labor Minister Rejects Pushback From Unions on Labor Overhaul," 1 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'decree.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of decree

Middle English, from Anglo-French decré, from Latin decretum, from neuter of decretus, past participle of decernere to decide, from de- + cernere to sift, decide — more at certain

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

decree Synonyms

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

decree

verb

Definition of decree

decreed; decreeing

transitive verb

1 : to command or enjoin by or as if by decree

decree an amnesty

2 : to determine or order judicially

decree a punishment

intransitive verb

: ordain

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decreer

play \-ˈkrē-ər\ noun

See decree defined for English-language learners

Examples of decree in a Sentence

The government decreed a national holiday.
The change was decreed by the President.
The City Council has decreed that all dogs must be kept on a leash.

Recent Examples of decree from the Web

In breaking up the parade the police were acting under city council orders which had decreed there would be no parade.

— sandiegouniontribune.com, "May 31, 1933: Memorial Day riot," 31 May 2018
Get our daily newsletter That model traces its roots to 1808, when Napoleon Bonaparte introduced the baccalauréat and decreed that anybody who passed it was entitled to a place at university.

— The Economist, "France, where the grossly unprepared try for maths degrees," 5 May 2018
Around the same time, San Clemente founder Ole Hanson decreed his entire community would be built that way.

— steve carney, latimes.com, "Architecture Spotlight: Spanish Colonial Revival evokes L.A.'s golden era," 28 Apr. 2018
In order to keep shamblers at bay, an earlier Congress passed the Negro and Native Reeducation Act (NNRA), which decreed that blacks and Native Americans alone should fight the undead.

— katie ward beim-esche, The Christian Science Monitor, "'Dread Nation' is a rollicking 'Gone With the Wind + Zombies' adventure," 20 Apr. 2018
Things seem to be going pretty well for the two lovebirds (love bunnies?) until a powerful stinkbug who bears a striking resemblance to Mr. Pence decrees that male bunnies cannot marry each other.

— liam stack, New York Times, "Children’s Book About Mike Pence’s Gay Bunny Jumps to No. 1," 20 Mar. 2018
Eight days later, Congress essentially overruled the circuit court by passing the Victim Rights Clarification Act, decreeing that no district court could order victims to make such a choice.

— jill lepore, The New Yorker, "The Rise of the Victims’-Rights Movement," 14 May 2018
Today, after five days of anticipation, the official announcement was decreed via the Kensington Palace Twitter account: Prince Louis Arthur Charles, to be called His Royal Highness Prince Louis of Cambridge.

— kaitlyn yarborough, Southern Living, "Southern-Approved Nicknames for Little Prince Lou—Er, Louis of Cambridge," 27 Apr. 2018
Parliament announced a new measure, decreeing that her child—regardless of gender—was the next heir to the British throne.

— elise taylor, Vogue, "The New Royal Baby Will Be 5th in Line to the Throne—But It Wasn’t Always That Way," 23 Apr. 2018

Origin and Etymology of decree

see ¹decree

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

decree Synonyms

Synonyms

call, command, dictate, direct, mandate, ordain, order;

Near Antonyms

cancel, countermand, rescind;

Related Words

ask, petition, request;

demand, require;

Phrases

call for;

DECREE Defined for English Language Learners

decree

noun

Definition of decree for English Language Learners

: an official order given by a person with power or by a government
: an official decision made by a court of law

decree

verb

Definition of decree for English Language Learners

: to order or decide (something) in an official way

DECREE Defined for Kids

decree

noun de·cree \ di-ˈkrē \

Definition of decree for Students

: an order or decision given by a person or group in authority

decree

verb

Definition of decree for Students

decreed; decreeing

: to give an order as an authority

Mom decreed that it was bedtime.

Law Dictionary

decree

noun de·cree \ di-ˈkrē \

legal Definition of decree

1 : an order having the force of law

by judicial decree

2 : a judicial decision especially in an equity or probate court; broadly : judgment

divorce decree

interlocutory decree

— consent decree

: a decree entered by a court that is determined by the parties' agreement : a settlement between the parties that is subject to judicial approval and supervision; specifically : such a decree by which the accused agrees to cease alleged illegal activities without admitting guilt

— decree nisi decrees nisi

: a provisional decree that will become final unless cause is shown why it should not

Note: Some states grant divorces using decrees nisi. The decree nisi creates a time period (as of 3 months) allowing for possible reconciliation or for completion of various arrangements (as custody).

— decree pro confesso

: a decree entered by a court based on a defendant's default and the presumption that the allegations are confessed — compare default judgment at judgment 1a

— final decree

: a decree that disposes of an action by determining all matters in dispute including especially the parties' rights — compare final judgment at judgment 1a

— interlocutory decree

: a decree that is made during the course of an action and that does not settle all matters in dispute

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