What does decree mean?
A decree is an official order issued by a person or body holding authority — a ruler, government, or court — commanding that something be done or declared. The word carries connotations of power and formality: decrees are not suggestions but binding commands, historically associated with kings, emperors, and dictators who ruled by fiat rather than debate. In modern legal systems the term survives most prominently in family law, where a divorce is granted through documents called a decree nisi and later a decree absolute. As a verb, to decree means to order or determine something by official authority, and it is often used figuratively — writers may say fate or history 'decreed' an outcome. Derived from Latin through Old French, the word shares deep roots with ideas of judging and discerning, which explains its enduring association with authoritative judgment. Whether describing royal proclamations, court rulings, or the whims of destiny, decree remains a precise and evocative term for commands backed by ultimate power.
An official order issued by a legal or governmental authority.
"By royal decree, the festival was moved to the spring."
In law, a decree specifically refers to a formal judgment, particularly in equity courts and divorce proceedings.
To order or decide something officially and with authority.
"The council decreed that all new buildings must include solar panels."
Often used figuratively or slightly archaically, as in 'fate decreed otherwise'.
Standard plural; commonly used when referring to multiple official orders, such as those issued over time by a government or ruler.
"The archives contain hundreds of imperial decrees dating back centuries."
When Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon, he wasn't issuing a decree — but every Roman emperor after him governed largely by them, making 'decree' one of the oldest words for power in the English language.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of decree
Decree comes from the Latin decernere, meaning 'to decide' or 'to determine', formed from de- ('away') plus cernere ('to sift, judge'). It entered English via Old French decret in the late medieval period, with early use attested from the 14th century in religious and legal contexts. Its Latin root also gave English words such as discretion and discern, all sharing the core idea of separating and judging. The verb sense developed alongside the noun, both firmly established by the early modern period.
How decree is actually used
The noun is formal and often appears in political, historical, or legal contexts. As a verb it carries a slightly archaic or elevated tone and is frequently used figuratively, as in 'fate decreed'. In British family law, terms such as decree absolute remain standard.
Easily confused with decree
A degree is a unit of measurement, an academic qualification, or an extent of something, whereas a decree is an official order; the two differ by one letter but share no meaning.