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edict

noun
\ ˈē-ˌdikt How to pronounce edict (audio) \

Definition of edict

1 : a proclamation having the force of law
2 : order, command we held firm to Grandmother's edict— M. F. K. Fisher
Other Words from edict Synonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about edict

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Other Words from edict

edictal \ i-​ˈdik-​tᵊl How to pronounce edictal (audio) \ adjective

Did You Know?

Edicts are few and far between in a democracy, since very few important laws can be made by a president or prime minister acting alone. But when a crisis arose in the Roman Republic, the senate would appoint a dictator, who would have the power to rule by edict. The idea was that the dictator could make decisions quickly, issuing his edicts faster than the senate could act. When the crisis was over, the edicts were canceled and the dictator usually retired from public life. Things are different today: dictators almost always install themselves in power, and they never give it up.

Examples of edict in a Sentence

The government issued an edict banning public demonstrations. the school board's edict put a new student dress code into effect

Recent Examples on the Web

 That follows edicts from Tri-County and the Colorado Department of Public Health, which were later communicated by the band and promoter AEG Presents Rocky Mountains. — John Wenzel, The Know, "Prairie dogs, parking and the plague: What you need to know before seeing Phish in Denver this weekend," 28 Aug. 2019 The confirmation coincided with an edict from Grand Ayatollah Kazem Haeri, a powerful Iraqi cleric based in Iran who is thought to be a mentor to some of Iraq’s top militia leaders. — Los Angeles Times, "Iraqis, bristling over Israeli airstrike, renew call for U.S. troops to get out," 23 Aug. 2019 That is the edict from ownership and the front office. — Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY, "Opinion: Draymond Green deal shows Warriors won't go away quietly in the West," 3 Aug. 2019 This latest edict from Generalissimo Trump represents another insult to the residents of the nation’s capital, the people who live and work here, sink roots and raise families, coach Little League and organize neighborhood block parties. — Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, "No tanks, Trump. Real Washingtonians aren’t interested in your party.," 1 July 2019 The personal cost for Patriarch Filaret has been high, since the edict from Constantinople does not allow for the new Ukrainian church to have its own patriarch. — Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, "Tangle of church and state roils Ukraine’s Orthodox parishes," 17 Apr. 2019 The universal edict among pitching coaches, from Little League up, is to implore their charges to throw strikes. — Joe Lemire, New York Times, "For Modern Strikeouts, Pitchers Veer Outside the Strike Zone," 16 July 2019 The universal edict among pitching coaches, from Little League up, is to implore their charges to throw strikes. — Joe Lemire, SFChronicle.com, "Pitchers veering outside strike zone more than ever to record a strikeout," 16 July 2019 In most instances, a school system does an internal review to see if policies or training edicts were violated, Mysogland said. — Josh Kovner, courant.com, "DCF will interview teacher, parents and children as it investigates complaint against Avon magnet school teacher," 12 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'edict.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of edict

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for edict

Middle English, from Latin edictum, from neuter of edictus, past participle of edicere to decree, from e- + dicere to say — more at diction

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More Definitions for edict

edict

noun
How to pronounce edict (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of edict

: an official order given by a person with power or by a government

See the full definition for edict in the English Language Learners Dictionary

edict

noun
\ ˈē-ˌdikt How to pronounce edict (audio) \

Kids Definition of edict

: a command or law given or made by an authority (as a ruler)

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More from Merriam-Webster on edict

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with edict

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for edict

Spanish Central: Translation of edict

Nglish: Translation of edict for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of edict for Arabic Speakers

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