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

In spite of the edict coming with a strong enforcement tool, capital punishment, the controls were widely violated. —Roger Valdez, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024

The Taliban’s latest edicts last month, referred to by Streep, include the demand for women and girls to remain silent in public. —Hilary Whiteman, CNN, 26 Sep. 2024

His edict reflected a Christian belief that the face reflected the image of God and should not be damaged. —Gustavo Morello, The Conversation, 10 July 2024

Over the years that followed, the once-impenetrable Iron Curtain began to slowly rust, giving up some of the most sordid secrets of Soviet rule, from Stalin’s capricious political edicts to the geopolitical machinations behind the Union’s numerous interventions in Asia and the Third World. —Ilan Berman, Foreign Affairs, 24 Apr. 2016

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