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

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

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

Trump’s edict on Wednesday may have sealed the bill’s fate while also raising public awareness of the issue. —Brian Stelter, CNN, 21 Nov. 2024

Administrative bloat, ideological edicts, and a counterproductive pivot towards equity in all things educational have effectively handicapped public education. —Wenyuan Wu, Orange County Register, 18 Nov. 2024

At the same time, a corporate edict not to encroach on Land Rover’s turf prevented them from offering full-on off-road capability. —Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 9 Nov. 2024

Like Blasphemous Act, Blasphemous Edict can reduce its cost to a one mana board wipe if there are enough creatures around, and like all ‘edicts’ makes players sacrifice creatures. —Jennifer Maas, Variety, 30 Oct. 2024

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

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

edict

noun

ˈē-ˌdikt 

: a law or order made or given by an authority (as a ruler)

edictal

i-ˈdik-tᵊl 

adjective