- a plural of dictum
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
dic•ta
(dik′tə),USA pronunciation n.
- a pl. of dictum.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
dicta /ˈdɪktə/ n
dic•tum /ˈdɪktəm/USA pronunciation
n. [countable], pl. -ta /-tə/USA pronunciation -tums.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- an authoritative pronouncement;
decree;
order:We'll have to go along with the boss's dictum. - a familiar saying;
proverb;
maxim:the old dictum that blood is thicker than water.
dic•tum
(dik′təm),USA pronunciation n., pl. -ta (-tə),USA pronunciation -tums.
- an authoritative pronouncement;
judicial assertion. - a saying;
maxim. - See obiter dictum.
- Latin: something said, a saying, command, word, noun, nominal use of neuter past participle of dīcere to say, speak; compare index
- 1660–70
- 1. edict, decree, fiat, order, declaration. 2. adage, proverb, truism, saw.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
dictum /ˈdɪktəm/ n ( pl -tums, -ta /-tə/)
- a formal or authoritative statement or assertion; pronouncement
- a popular saying or maxim
- See obiter dictum
'dicta' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):