Meaning & use
fiat
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An official order or decree issued by an authority, often without the consent of those affected.
See it in a sentence
The new policy was imposed by fiat, without any public consultation.
The king ruled by fiat, rarely explaining the reasoning behind his decisions.
A note on using this word
Often appears in the phrase 'by fiat,' implying a decision made from authority alone rather than negotiation or debate; also used in economics, as in 'fiat currency.'
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. noun
Money that a government has declared to be legal tender but that is not backed by a physical commodity like gold.
Most modern national currencies are fiat currencies.
Make it your own
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