edict

American  

[ee-dikt] / ˈi dɪkt /

noun

1. a decree issued by a sovereign or other authority.

   Synonyms:

   pronouncement, dictum

2. any authoritative proclamation or command.

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edict British  

/ ˈiːdɪkt /

noun

1. a decree, order, or ordinance issued by a sovereign, state, or any other holder of authority

2. any formal or authoritative command, proclamation, etc

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Other Word Forms

• edictal adjective
• edictally adverb

Etymology

Origin of edict

First recorded in 1450–1500; from Latin ēdictum, noun use of neuter of ēdictus (past participle of ēdīcere “to give public notice, proclaim”), equivalent to ē- + dictus “said”; e- ¹, dictum

Example Sentences

Rising deficits, erratic trade negotiations, unpredictable tariff edicts, and a perceived attack on the Federal Reserve have all combined to push Treasury bond yields higher.

From Barron's

“There’s a sense of moral panic,” Ms. Hall says of the edict.

From The Wall Street Journal

But after that horrifying day of the proclamation of the edict of expulsion, Mother takes down our mezuzah, which announces we are Jewish, to bring to our new home.

From Literature

Arguably the most visible opposition to his edicts had been minor and limited - for example not enforcing regulations like the ban on shaving beards in regions controlled by Kabul group-aligned officials.

From BBC

Rental-home executives and investors said they had no idea the president’s edict was coming.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• commandment
• decree
• directive
• injunction
• judgment
• mandate
• precept
• proclamation
• regulation
• ruling
• statute