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 contrast in national debt accumulation between the gold standard and fiat currency eras is even more striking. —Sanford Mann, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025

Read More: How the Crypto World Learned to Love Donald Trump, J.D. Vance, and Project 2025 At its core, a stablecoin is a digital token pegged to a fiat currency like the U.S. dollar, designed to offer the speed and accessibility of crypto without the volatility of assets like Bitcoin or Ethereum. —Nik Popli, Time, 26 Apr. 2025

If a future president cancels a project through executive fiat, companies would be paid back from the fund, Burgum said. —Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2025

With the dollar recently falling to a three-year low, gold’s appeal has only grown: When faith in fiat falters, investors reach for what feels real. —Catherine Baab, Quartz, 22 Apr. 2025

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