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

• decree
• edict
• ruling
• directive

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

At the Greenwich Economic Forum in October, Dalio urged investors to allocate around 15% of their portfolios to gold, saying the metal’s surge reflects a shift away from debt assets and fiat currencies, reminding him of the 1970s. —Dave Smith, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2025

As the metal hits new highs, veteran hedge fund manager Ray Dalio has urged investors to allocate as much as 15% of their portfolio to gold, as debt levels, inflation and government spending erode confidence in paper assets and fiat currencies. —Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025

Stablecoins — digital tokens typically pegged 1:1 to fiat currencies like the US dollar or a local currency — have always been designed as stable units of account and mediums of exchange, not speculative assets. —Gwera Kiwana, semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2025

One is that the free market, meaning supply and demand, not government fiat, should set prices and production levels. —Dallas Morning News, Twin Cities, 19 Sep. 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