What does dictum mean?
Dictum is a formal word for an authoritative statement — a pronouncement, maxim, or memorable saying attributed to someone whose opinion carries weight. Its most specialized use is in law, where a dictum is a remark made by a judge in the course of an opinion but not essential to deciding the case; such statements do not form binding precedent, unlike the court's actual holding. The plural can be either the Latinate dicta or the anglicized dictums, though dicta predominates in legal writing. Outside the courtroom, dictum lends a tone of gravity to quotations, aphorisms, and declared principles, as in 'his favorite dictum was that fortune favors the bold.' Because it implies authority, it can occasionally carry a faintly ironic edge when applied to someone pontificating. Borrowed directly from Latin, where it means 'something said,' dictum belongs to a large family of English words descended from the verb dicere, 'to say,' including dictate, verdict, and predict.
A formal statement or pronouncement by an authority; a notable saying.
"Her closing dictum — 'write what you know' — became the workshop's guiding principle."
Plural: dicts or dictums; dicta is standard in legal and scholarly writing.
(Law) A statement or observation in a judicial opinion that is not essential to the decision and thus not binding as precedent.
"The appellate court treated the comment about damages as mere dictum."
Often used in the Latin phrase obiter dictum, literally 'a thing said in passing.'
The Latin plural dicta is preferred in legal and academic contexts; dictums is acceptable in general use.
"His speeches were full of dicta that his followers recited like scripture."
In law, only part of a judge's ruling binds future courts — the rest is mere dictum, and lawyers have argued over which is which for centuries.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dictum
Dictum comes from Latin dictum, meaning 'a thing said' or 'remark,' the neuter past participle of dicere, 'to say or speak.' It entered English in the late sixteenth century, first in general use for an authoritative saying and soon after in legal contexts. It shares its root with a wide range of English borrowings from Latin, including dictate, predict, verdict, indicate, and dedicate, all ultimately tracing back to the Indo-European root *deik-, meaning 'to point out or pronounce.'
How dictum is actually used
Formal and often legal or academic in register. In legal usage, the Latin phrase obiter dictum (plural obiter dicta) specifically denotes remarks incidental to a judgment.
Easily confused with dictum
A diktat is a harsh, imposed order or settlement (especially a punitive peace treaty), while a dictum is simply an authoritative statement or saying.