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

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

Around the turn of the 13th century B.C.E., the 18th Dynasty pharaoh Horemheb issued an edict stating that both tax extortion and evasion could be punished by removal of the nose and exile. —Kate McMahon, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024

The edict of size doesn’t just stop in the weight room with the current players. —Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2024

In 2006, referees had been given a similar, but less explicit, edict, and technicals had spiked. —Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2024

The dye was also so pricey — worth more than three times its weight in gold, according to a Roman edict issued in 301 A.D. — that its use was reserved for priests, nobility and royalty. —Franz Lidz, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024

The European Union and Britain plan to ban the sale of new combustion vehicles in favor of electric ones, but the move is stumbling and some experts believe the only sensible solution is to water down the edict by giving free rein to hybrids. —Neil Winton, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024

Meredith Shea, the academy’s chief membership, impact and industry officer, said the inclusion standards were always intended to be more of a prod, less of an edict. —Brooks Barnes, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024

Roach Brown says his brother was so respected, and so feared, that no one dared violate his edict. —Tim Carman, Washington Post, 15 Feb. 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