Meaning & use
dictum
A formal statement of a principle, or a short, memorable saying that expresses a general truth.
See it in a sentence
He lived by the old dictum that honesty is the best policy.
The judge's dictum in the ruling was widely quoted by legal scholars.
A note on using this word
In law, obiter dictum refers to a judge's remark that is not essential to a ruling and carries no binding authority.
Words with a similar meaning
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