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

Dimon has been one of the staunchest advocates for a return to the office, mandating earlier this year that most employees work onsite five days a week, an edict that’s set the tone for tougher policies across Wall Street. —Jack Sidders, Fortune, 27 Nov. 2025

Bondi takes instant obedience to Trump’s social-media edicts as her job description. —Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025

Education Secretary Linda McMahon noted that the goal is to give state and local education officials more discretion rather than to shackle them with the edicts that often accompany federal funding. —Editorial, Boston Herald, 22 Nov. 2025

Unable to strike out on their own, their lives decided for them by society’s unruly edicts. —Holly Jones, Variety, 12 Nov. 2025

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