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

Western nations' freezing of $300 billion in Russian central bank fiat currency assets exposed the vulnerability of holding reserves in foreign currencies or overseas institutions. —Garth Friesen, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025

Stablecoins are a type of digital asset designed to hold a constant value, typically with a peg to a fiat currency. —Dylan Butts, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2025

While traditional fiat currencies, such as the U.S. dollar, are issued by governments that can produce them as needed, bitcoin has a limited supply and is produced by computers. —Rachel Barber, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2025

Unlike fiat currencies such as the U.S. dollar (USD) and the euro (EUR), which can theoretically be expanded without limit, Bitcoin follows a strict halving cycle, reducing new issuance by half every four years. —Jon Helgi Egilsson, Forbes, 3 Mar. 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