diktat

[ dik-taht ]

noun

1. a harsh, punitive settlement or decree imposed unilaterally on a defeated nation, political party, etc.
2. any decree or authoritative statement:

   The Board of Education issued a diktat that all employees must report an hour earlier.

diktat

/ ˈdɪktɑːt /

noun

1. decree or settlement imposed, esp by a ruler or a victorious nation
2. a dogmatic statement

Word History and Origins

Origin of diktat¹

1930–35; < German: literally, something dictated < Latin dictātus, past participle of dictāre to dictate

Word History and Origins

Origin of diktat¹

German: dictation, from Latin dictātum, from dictāre to dictate

Example Sentences

A “governance council” sits above them, whose members issue diktats and establish operating procedures — while not actually working in the trenches.

From TechCrunch

Even in 1960 such a diktat might have been, well, “understandable” in a Southern city such as Washington then was.

From The Daily Beast

But now Fergie appears ready to defy the implicit diktat of the House of Windsor to stay away.

From The Daily Beast

Opponents were transformed, by cultural diktat, into “wing-nuts.”

From The Daily Beast