n., pl. -ta (-tə) or -tums.

1. An authoritative, often formal pronouncement: “He cites Augustine's dictum that ‘If you understand it, it is not God’” (Joseph Sobran).
2. Law. See obiter dictum (sense 1).

[Latin, from neuter past participle of dīcere, to say.]

This entry contains information applicable to United States law only.

[Latin, A remark.] A statement, comment, or opinion. An abbreviated version of obiter dictum, "a remark by the way," which is a collateral opinion stated by a judge in the decision of a case concerning legal matters that do not directly involve the facts or affect the outcome of the case, such as a legal principle that is introduced by way of illustration, argument, analogy, or suggestion.

Dictum has no binding authority and, therefore, cannot be cited as precedent in subsequent lawsuits. Dictum is the singular form of dicta.

IN BRIEF: An authoritative statement.

Relating to Descartes, author of "Cogito ergo sum" to demonstrate the reality of human existence; the dictum might be improved: "Cogito cogito ergo cogito sum" — "I think that I think, therefore I think that I am;" as close an approach. — Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914).

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - erklæring, proklamation, sentens

Nederlands (Dutch)
dictum (uitspraak), uitdrukking, terloopse opmerking

Français (French)
n. - dicton, maxime, proposition, affirmation, (Jur) remarque superfétatoire

Deutsch (German)
n. - autoritativer Entscheid, Spruch, (jur.) richterliche Meinung

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - ρήση, απόφθεγμα

Italiano (Italian)
massima

Português (Portuguese)
n. - ditado (m), sentença (Jur.) (f)

Русский (Russian)
изречение

Español (Spanish)
n. - sentencia, aforismo, dictamen

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - uttalande, maxim

中文（简体） (Chinese (Simplified))
名言, 格言

中文（繁體） (Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 名言, 格言

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 격언, (전문가의) 견해

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 言明, 格言

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) قول مأثور, مثل‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮חוות דעת, פתגם‬

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