decree

1 of 2

noun

de·​cree di-ˈkrē 

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 sense 3a) court or probate court

decree

2 of 2

verb

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

decreer

di-ˈkrē-ər 

noun

Synonyms

Noun

• behest
• charge
• command
• commandment
• dictate
• direction
• directive
• do
• edict
• imperative
• injunction
• instruction
• order
• word

Verb

• call
• command
• dictate
• direct
• mandate
• ordain
• order

Examples of decree in a Sentence

Noun

The President issued a decree making the day a national holiday.

Their marriage was annulled by judicial decree.

Verb

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 on the Web

Noun

Seven months later, she was ousted from her position by presidential decree, and the court allowed a referendum to abolish term limits. —Barbara Debout, Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2023

An even more powerful tool than church decrees, however, may be the Kremlin’s rewriting of history. —Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 22 Aug. 2023

Half-staff is the preferred form of reference in presidential decrees while half-mast is used outside of the U.S. More:A Marine from Madison and two others were found dead in a car in North Carolina. —Steven Martinez, Journal Sentinel, 11 Aug. 2023

The right-wing coalition Meloni leads, whose parties have traditionally protected taxi drivers, is working on a new decree. —Chiara Albanese, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2023

During their twelve years in power the Nazis promulgated about two thousand statutes, ordinances, and decrees defining legal rights through family history. —Fintan O’Toole, The New York Review of Books, 20 July 2023

By the occupying Nazis' decree, any assistance to Jews was punished with summary execution. —Monika Scislowska, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Sep. 2023

Presto, the Biden Administration is raising pay by regulatory decree. —The Editorial Board, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2023

Sudan’s military ruler General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who commands SAF, issued a decree to dissolve RSF on Wednesday. —Nima Elbagir, CNN, 6 Sep. 2023

Verb

Oman Oman decreed a sweeping labor law that follows other reforms this year to improve conditions for private sector workers. —Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Sep. 2023

Late Saturday, King Mohammed VI decreed three days of national mourning. —Souhail Karam, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2023

In a sign of increasing desperation, Putin last week decreed that restrictions on employing teenagers as young as 14 should be lifted, to cope with the labor shortages, according to a list of presidential orders published on the Kremlin’s website. —Robyn Dixon, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2023

On Thursday, a Los Angeles county judge granted the name change for the now 13-month-old, officially decreeing him Tatum Thompson. —Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 31 Aug. 2023

Before books were sold along the river, the stalls were a place to find pamphlets and anti-monarchist information—in 1649, the French king decreed that books were not allowed to be sold near the Pont Neuf. —Alex Ledsom, Forbes, 13 Aug. 2023

In 2013—after conferring with pilots, passengers, aviation manufacturers, and mobile tech representatives—the Federal Aviation Administration officially decreed that passengers could keep their phones on during flights, as long as they were set to airplane mode. —Kaitlin Menza, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2023

Four years ago, with what appeared to be suspiciously little warning, global soccer’s governing body decreed that the Women’s World Cup — previously contested by 24 teams — would expand to 32, the same size as the men’s tournament (for now). —Rory Smith, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2023

Snow's set was filled with the kind of moves that once made TV censors decree that Elvis be shown only from the waist up. —Christopher Spata Tampa Bay Times (tns), Arkansas Online, 17 July 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

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

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing decree

• decree-law
• royal decree
• papal decree
• consent decree
• by decree

• decree-law
• royal decree
• papal decree
• consent decree
• by decree

Kids Definition

decree

1 of 2 noun

de·​cree di-ˈkrē 

: an order or decision given by one in authority

decree

2 of 2 verb

decreed; decreeing

: to command or order by decree

Legal Definition

decree

noun

de·​cree di-ˈkrē 

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 sense 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 sense 1a

— interlocutory decree

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

decree verb

Etymology

Noun

Old French decré, from Latin decretum, from neuter of decretus, past participle of decernere to decide