fiat

noun

fi·​at ˈfē-ət 

-ˌat,

-ˌät;

ˈfī-ət,

-ˌat 

1

: an authoritative or arbitrary order : decree

government by fiat

2

: an authoritative determination : dictate

a fiat of conscience

3

: a command or act of will that creates something without or as if without further effort

According to the Bible, the world was created by fiat.

Synonyms

• bull
• decree
• diktat
• directive
• edict
• rescript
• ruling
• ukase

Examples of fiat in a Sentence

He runs the company by fiat.

the school principal issued a fiat that caps were not to be worn inside the school, and that was that

Recent Examples on the Web

The fact of the matter is that where there has been money there has always been credit and where there is credit there is always some kind of fiat. —Clem Chambers, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024

Central banks around the world continue to accumulate gold to diversify away from fiat currencies, adding another layer of demand for the precious metal. —Tony Zhang, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2024

This property alone dictates that in the long-run, as fiat currencies lose value over time, bitcoin’s value will rise in nominal terms and be more stable than other assets in real terms. —Ansel Lindner, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2024

This decision protects average citizens from arbitrary regulatory fiats, empowers judges to properly interpret statutes and might even force Congress to do a more precise job writing regulations. —The Editorial Board, Orange County Register, 28 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin, let it be done, 3rd singular present subjunctive of fieri to become, be done — more at be

First Known Use

circa 1631, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing fiat

• fiat money

Kids Definition

fiat

noun

fi·​at ˈfē-ət  -at 

-ät;

ˈfī-ət,

-at

: an order from someone in charge

Legal Definition

fiat

noun

fi·​at ˈfē-ˌät, -ˌat, -ət; ˈfī-ˌat 

1

: decree

2

: an authoritative but arbitrary order

a brazen act of judicial fiat

—L. H. Tribe