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

The first big test for the governor’s edict comes next year, when 35% of new vehicles sold must be zero-emission, up from 26.4% now. —Russ Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024

They’ve been issued an edict by the fans to clean house and start over. —Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 8 Dec. 2024

According to Yonhap, a military command that was established after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law late Tuesday issued an edict prohibiting any political activity, including protests and political party activities. —Billal Rahman, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024

The fratricide overshadowed Caracalla’s achievements, including the passage of an edict granting all free men in the Roman Empire citizenship and the construction of a luxurious public bath complex that bore the emperor’s name. —Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Nov. 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