decree nisi

American  

[nahy-sahy] / ˈnaɪ saɪ /

noun

Law.

1. a decree, especially of divorce, that will become absolute at a later date.

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decree nisi British  

/ ˈnaɪsaɪ /

noun

1. a provisional decree, esp in divorce proceedings, which will later be made absolute unless cause is shown why it should not Compare decree absolute

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Etymology

Origin of decree nisi

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

decree nisi

A decree nisi was due to be granted in March 2021.

From BBC ● Mar. 17, 2022

His children cried, last August, when he announced he would be leaving, when he filed the paperwork to complete his decree nisi, and that was enough to persuade him to stay.

From New York Times ● Aug. 5, 2021

And it replaces the terms "decree nisi" and "decree absolute" with "conditional order" and "final order".

From BBC ● Jun. 8, 2020

And another instance in which his decree nisi was sent directly from the high court to a British tabloid "before it was sent to me".

From The Guardian ● Jul. 30, 2011

So it came to pass, that Jack Darling who was spending six months medical leave in England, fell a victim to Kitty's charm shortly before Mrs. Fox's decree nisi against her husband became absolute.

From Banked Fires by Savi, E. W. (Ethel Winifred)

Related Words

• annulment
• breakup
• dissolution
• separation
• split