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

Rubio’s edict also could affect SDSU freshman center Thokbor Majak, who was born in South Sudan before attending school in Uganda and Senegal. —Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025

Unlike previous commissions and councils, HESA was not the result of a presidential charge or a Congressional edict. —David Rosowsky, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025

Any new federal edict that caps state spending on fiber will require states to renegotiate contracts and potentially delay the program by another year to 18 months, a state official said. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025

In the aftermath of this edict, Helen made a critical decision. —Mary Laporte, Hartford Courant, 19 Mar. 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