1
: a proclamation having the force of law
2
: order, command
we held firm to Grandmother's edictM. F. K. Fisher
edictal 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.

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Gary Councilwoman Lori Lathan, newly appointed to the commission, kick-started a discussion of how the agency can continue to push for things like air quality improvement without referring to climate change or otherwise running afoul of Trump’s edicts. Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 18 May 2025 Despite Newsom’s edict, Bass didn’t appear ready to throw in the towel. Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2025 Throughout the following decades, my grandfather would use every opportunity through books and speeches to point out how the oppression of women, especially through the edicts of male religious authorities, continues to plague humanity. Greta Bjornson, People.com, 5 May 2025 The same goes for the prospect of Trump issuing an edict on name, image and likeness. Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 3 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for edict

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of edict was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Edict.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/edict. Accessed 26 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

edict

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

More from Merriam-Webster on edict

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