What does decretal mean?
A decretal is a formal decree, most commonly understood as an official letter issued by the Pope in response to a specific question about church doctrine, discipline, or canon law. In medieval Europe, such letters were among the most important instruments of papal governance, and collected volumes known simply as 'the Decretals' became foundational texts for canon lawyers and university faculties of law. By extension, 'decretal' can serve as an adjective meaning 'of or relating to a decree,' as in 'decretal authority.' The word carries a distinctly formal, scholarly register today, appearing mainly in historical, theological, and legal writing rather than everyday speech. Its association with papal power and the development of European legal traditions makes it valuable for readers interested in how religious authority shaped Western law. Related terms include the derived nouns 'decretals' and 'decretalist.'
An official decree issued by the Pope, typically in reply to a request for a ruling on a point of canon law or church discipline.
"Canonists compiled thousands of papal decretals into authoritative collections during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries."
Frequently encountered in the plural when referring to collections of such letters, as in 'Gregory's Decretals.'
Of, relating to, or having the nature or force of a decree.
"The bishop exercised decretal power in settling the dispute within his diocese."
This sense is rare and appears almost exclusively in formal legal or ecclesiastical prose.
The plural often refers collectively to bodies or collections of papal letters, especially in phrases like 'the False Decretals' or 'the Decretals of Gregory IX.'
"Medieval scholars studied the decretals closely to understand the reach of papal authority."
For centuries, a single word — the 'False Decretals' — stood at the heart of one of history's most audacious medieval forgeries.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of decretal
'Decretal' derives from the Late Latin 'decretalis,' an adjective formed from 'decretum' (a decree), which in turn comes from the Latin verb 'decernere,' meaning to decide or determine by judgment. The term entered English through ecclesiastical Latin, where 'epistolae decretales' referred to papal letters carrying binding rulings on matters of canon law. It shares its root with 'decree' and related forms such as 'decretory' and 'decretive.'
Related word forms
How decretal is actually used
The noun sense is largely confined to historical, legal, and ecclesiastical contexts, particularly discussions of canon law and the medieval papacy. The adjectival sense ('of the nature of a decree') is rare and chiefly found in formal or scholarly writing. The capitalized plural form, 'the Decretals,' often refers specifically to authoritative collections of papal letters used in canon law.
Easily confused with decretal
A 'decree' is any formal legal order or ruling, while a 'decretal' specifically denotes a papal decree or the adjective describing something of the nature of a decree.