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Dicta: meaning, definitions and examples

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dicta

 

[ ˈdɪk.tə ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

legal terminology

Dicta, or obiter dicta, refers to remarks or comments made by a judge in a legal opinion that are not essential to the decision of the case. These statements may provide insight into the court's reasoning but do not hold legal precedent. While dicta can influence future cases, they are not legally binding. The distinction between the opinion of the court and the dicta serves to clarify what is and is not applicable in subsequent legal interpretations.

Synonyms

comment, obiter dictum, remark

Examples of usage

  • The judge's dicta provided valuable insight into the law.
  • In his decision, he included several dicta that sparked debate.
  • The legal community often analyzes the dicta from landmark cases.

Translations

Translations of the word "dicta" in other languages:

🇵🇹 ditados

🇮🇳 उद्धरण

🇩🇪 Aussprüche

🇮🇩 pernyataan

🇺🇦 висловлення

🇵🇱 powiedzenia

🇯🇵 名言

🇫🇷 dictons

🇪🇸 dichos

🇹🇷 atasözleri

🇰🇷 격언

🇸🇦 أقوال

🇨🇿 přísloví

🇸🇰 príslovia

🇨🇳 格言

🇸🇮 pregovori

🇮🇸 orðtak

🇰🇿 мақал

🇬🇪 სიტყვები

🇦🇿 deyimlər

🇲🇽 dichos

Etymology

The term 'dicta' originates from the Latin word 'dictum', meaning 'something said'. In the context of law, it gained prominence as legal systems began to formalize the documentation of judicial opinions. Dicta emerged as a distinct concept to separate the binding legal rulings from the extraneous remarks of judges. Over time, as judicial opinions expanded, the identification and classification of dicta became essential for legal practitioners to understand the weight of a court's remarks. The practice of citing dicta has evolved, and while they are not legally enforceable, they can influence legal arguments and judicial reasoning in subsequent cases, reflecting the dynamic nature of legal interpretation and the ongoing dialogue within the judiciary.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #19,691, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.