diktat

[dik-taht]

noun

1. a harsh, punitive settlement or decree imposed unilaterally on a defeated nation, political party, etc.

2. any decree or authoritative statement.

   The Board of Education issued a diktat that all employees must report an hour earlier.

diktat

/ ˈdɪktɑːt /

noun

1. decree or settlement imposed, esp by a ruler or a victorious nation

2. a dogmatic statement

Word History and Origins

Origin of diktat¹

1930–35; < German: literally, something dictated < Latin dictātus, past participle of dictāre to dictate

Word History and Origins

Origin of diktat¹

German: dictation, from Latin dictātum, from dictāre to _dictate

Example Sentences

The would-be autocrat issuing diktats from the Oval Office may be odious to many.

From Los Angeles Times

Instead, this is exactly how it happens — a blurring here, a norm destroyed there, a presidential diktat unchallenged.

From Salon

Hezbollah also said that the Lebanese cabinet's decision to try and confine arms supply and production to state forces was the result of American "diktats".

From BBC

Announcing its decision to leave Eccas, Rwanda said its right to take up the "chairmanship… was deliberately ignored in order to impose the DRC's diktat".

From BBC

I understand that Trump is currently demanding that his staff keep bringing him more executive orders every day because he finds handing down diktats from on high so gratifying.

From Salon