Standard Lemma guide

dictum

noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • dĭk′təm
  • UK, US: /ˈdɪk.təm/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɪktəm
  • CMU ARPABET: D IH1 K T AH0 M Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An authoritative statement; a dogmatic saying; a maxim, an apothegm.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A judicial opinion expressed by judges on points that do not necessarily arise in the case, and are not involved in it.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

The report of a judgment made by one of the judges who has given it.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

An arbitrament or award.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

an authoritative declaration

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: pronouncement, say-so

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: declaration

Narrower terms: directive

6

noun

Meaning 6

an opinion voiced by a judge on a point of law not directly bearing on the case in question and therefore not binding

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: obiter dictum

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: opinion, legal opinion, judgment, judgement

History

Etymology

From Latin dictum (“proverb, maxim”), from dictus (“having been said”), perfect passive participle of dico (“to say”). Compare Spanish dicho (“saying”). Doublet of dict.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: сенте́нция (senténcija) — authoritative statement
  • Bulgarian: изрече́ние (izrečénie) — authoritative statement
  • Finnish: lausunto — authoritative statement
  • German: Machtspruch — authoritative statement
  • German: Diktum — authoritative statement
  • Polish: dictum — authoritative statement
  • Portuguese: ditado — authoritative statement
  • Russian: изрече́ние (izrečénije) — authoritative statement
  • Russian: сенте́нция (sentɛ́ncija) — authoritative statement
  • Esperanto: verdikto — judicial opinion