fiat

noun

fi·​at ˈfē-ət How to pronounce fiat (audio)
-ˌat,
-ˌät;
ˈfī-ət,
-ˌat How to pronounce fiat (audio)
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.

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 According to an article by observer bitcoin and crypto casinos search queries eclipsed fiat casino searches for the first time in history this year. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 Rather than seriously debate us on the merits of sociological research, gubernatorial fiat just wrote us off the page. Carol J. Petty, Baltimore Sun, 2 Feb. 2024 So, of course, should anyone who has watched Joe Biden act as a lawless rogue, dispense public money without congressional appropriations like a king, and threaten to borrow money without the consent of Congress and issue debt backed only by executive fiat. Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 23 Jan. 2024 Its supporting role as a hedge against inflation and economic volatility has stimulated the interest of investors worldwide, positioning it as a formidable alternative to depreciating fiat currencies. Susie Violet Ward, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 Cost also gives more than a fair hearing to the critics of judicial review (including Madison, Jefferson, and Lincoln) in light of the capacity of nationwide Supreme Court fiats to short-circuit the system’s features for gradually building consensus. Daniel Foster, National Review, 30 Nov. 2023 Palestinian identity was a mounting grievance against Zionist incursion and imperial fiat—an interrupted, frustrated modernizing project in its own right. Bernard Avishai, The New Yorker, 2 Feb. 2024 Speedy Crypto Banking Options: Ignition accommodates both fiat and cryptocurrency payments, including BTC, ETH, and other prominent cryptos. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2024 Those who deposit with fiat currency can get a welcome bonus up to $2,000. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 17 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fiat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of fiat was circa 1631

Cite this Entry

“Fiat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fiat. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

fiat

noun
fi·​at ˈfē-ət How to pronounce fiat (audio) -at How to pronounce fiat (audio)
-ät;
ˈfī-ət,
-at
: an order from someone in charge

Legal Definition

1
: decree
2
: an authoritative but arbitrary order
a brazen act of judicial fiatL. H. Tribe

More from Merriam-Webster on fiat

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