obiter dictum

[ob-i-ter dik-tuhm]

noun

plural

obiter dicta 

1. an incidental or passing remark, opinion, etc.

2. Law.,  an incidental or supplementary opinion by a judge in deciding a case, upon a matter not essential to the decision, and therefore not binding as precedent.

obiter dictum

/ ˈɒbɪtə ˈdɪktəm, ˈəʊ- /

noun

1. law an observation by a judge on some point of law not directly in issue in the case before him and thus neither requiring his decision nor serving as a precedent, but nevertheless of persuasive authority

2. any comment, remark, or observation made in passing

Word History and Origins

Origin of obiter dictum¹

1805–15; < Latin: (a) saying by the way

Word History and Origins

Origin of obiter dictum¹

Latin: something said in passing