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diktat

[ dik-taht ]
/ dɪkˈtɑt /
|

noun

a harsh, punitive settlement or decree imposed unilaterally on a defeated nation, political party, etc.
any decree or authoritative statement: The Board of Education issued a diktat that all employees must report an hour earlier.

Nearby words

  1. dik-dik,
  2. dike,
  3. diketone,
  4. diketopiperazine,
  5. dikkop,
  6. dil,
  7. dil.,
  8. dilacerate,
  9. dilaceration,
  10. dilantin

Origin of diktat

1930–35; < German: literally, something dictated < Latin dictātus, past participle of dictāre to dictate
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for diktat

  • Even in 1960 such a diktat might have been, well, “understandable” in a Southern city such as Washington then was.

    The Racist Redskins|Michael Tomasky|June 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST
British Dictionary definitions for diktat

diktat

/ (ˈdɪktɑːt) /

noun

decree or settlement imposed, esp by a ruler or a victorious nation
a dogmatic statement

Word Origin for diktat

German: dictation, from Latin dictātum, from dictāre to dictate
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for diktat

diktat

n.

1933, from German Diktat "dictate."

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper