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

Over the next decade, New Yorkers should brace for a steady wave of rising energy costs as new infrastructure will be needed to fulfill the all-electric construction edict enacted here. —Kris Delair, New York Daily News, 7 Mar. 2025

Officers and directors have enough problems trying to balance the turbulence of new governmental edicts with pressing economic and operational challenges. —Michael Peregrine, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025

Trump's order appears to have other targets, some already subjects of earlier edicts and Justice Department lawsuits. —Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 21 Feb. 2025

The edict was, Work with another artist and maybe do something by a third artist who has been associated with the show. —Devon Ivie, Vulture, 19 Feb. 2025

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

Rhymes for edict

• oviduct

Kids Definition

edict

noun

ˈē-ˌdikt 

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

edictal

i-ˈdik-tᵊl 

adjective