also dictums
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How to Use Dictum in Law and Beyond
The word dictum is frequently used in philosophy, but also in economics, political science, and other fields. Almost any condensed piece of wisdom—"The perfect is the enemy of the good", "Buy low, sell high", "All politics is local", etc.—can be called a dictum. In the law, judges may often add to a written opinion an obiter dictum, or "statement made in passing"—a strong statement that isn't directly relevant to the case being decided. If they're well thought out and eloquent, obiter dicta (notice the plural form) may be referred to by later judges and lawyers for years afterward.
Examples of dictum in a Sentence
Steve Denning, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024
Smith co-wrote six of the 18 songs — his road schedule kept him from writing more, but, as the Nashville dictum goes, the best song always wins.
—Melinda Newman, Billboard, 4 Oct. 2024
However, dictums from the C-suite won’t work to sustain this ideal; shows of authority make employees feel more cautious.
—Michael Morris, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2024
Was this dictum merely a face-saving gesture for the Chinese Communist Party?
—Aja Romano, Vox, 4 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dictum 
Dictionary Entries Near dictum
Cite this Entry
“Dictum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dictum. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dictum
noun
also dictums
Legal Definition
dictum
noun
called also obiter dictum
compare holding, judgment, precedent, stare decisisNote: Dicta have persuasive value in making an argument, but they are not binding as precedent.
Latin, utterance, from neuter of dictus, past participle of dicere to say
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