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

At this point, work flexibility implementation becomes part of your team culture, rather than an edict or policy declaration. —Martin Zwilling, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025

In July, a United Nations report said the ministry was contributing to a climate of fear and intimidation among Afghans through edicts and the methods used to enforce them. —Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 1 Jan. 2025

The brutal workload was lessened slightly by an edict from Nickelodeon. —Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 23 Dec. 2024

Maybe that’s because this is sports, where equity creates entertaining games, rather than human resources edicts. —Joe Mathews, The Mercury News, 21 Dec. 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