Dictum: meaning, definitions and examples

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dictum

 

[ หˆdษชktษ™m ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

legal terminology

A dictum is an authoritative statement or pronouncement, often in a legal context. It may refer to something said by a judge that is not essential to the decision in the case, thus not legally binding but may carry persuasive value. Dicta are typically used to clarify the reasoning behind a decision, offering guidance for future cases. The term has origins in legal writing where judges offer opinions that, while not part of the formal ruling, provide insight into the law.

Synonyms

advice, pronouncement, statement

Examples of usage

  • The court's dictum provided clarity on the legal principles involved.
  • In her ruling, the judge issued a dictum that was widely discussed among legal scholars.
  • While the dictum is not binding, it can influence lower courts' decisions.
  • The legal community often quotes famous dicta from landmark cases.

Translations

Translations of the word "dictum" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น dizer

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค‰เค•เฅเคคเคฟ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Aussage

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ pernyataan

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฒะธัะปั–ะฒ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ powiedzenie

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ่จ€่‘‰

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท dicton

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ dicho

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท sรถz

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋ง

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู‚ูˆู„

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ vรฝrok

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ vyjadrenie

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ้™ˆ่ฟฐ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ izrek

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ orรฐ

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ัำฉะท

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ›แƒ”แƒขแƒงแƒ•แƒ”แƒšแƒ”แƒ‘แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ sรถz

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ dicho

Word origin

The term 'dictum' originates from Latin, meaning 'that which is said'. In legal contexts, it denotes commentary or opinions expressed by a judge or court that are not essential to the resolution of a case but may still impart valuable insights into the interpretation of laws. The use of 'dicta' (the plural form of dictum) has evolved within the legal profession where such statements are regarded for their potential impact on future judicial decisions. Legal professionals often study notable dicta to ascertain trends in judicial reasoning or to understand better the underlying principles that inform legal decisions.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #13,362, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.