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 of edict

• decree
• ruling
• directive

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

Last week, OutKick explained how Magnus undermined his own edict and vision by hiring back Stan Verrett to host a throwaway show on NFL Network. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2026

Many believe Beijing perceived Tung as a loyalist who would obey the Communist leadership’s edicts. — Kanis Leung, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Countless speakers left the Pale of Settlement – the territory in Eastern Europe where Jews had been granted permission to live under an edict of the Russian czars. — Ilan Stavans, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026

The president’s orders and edicts have no basis in reality, are nonsensical and are making our nation significantly less safe. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026

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

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for edict

• oviduct

Kids Definition

edict

noun

ˈē-ˌdikt 

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

edictal

i-ˈdik-tᵊl 

adjective