obiter dictum

[ ob-i-ter dik-tuhm ]

/ ˈɒb ɪ tər ˈdɪk təm /

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See synonyms for obiter dictum on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural ob·i·ter dic·ta

[ob-i-ter dik-tuh]. /ˈɒb ɪ tər ˈdɪk tə/.

an incidental or passing remark, opinion, etc.

Law. an incidental or supplementary opinion by a judge in deciding a case, upon a matter not essential to the decision, and therefore not binding as precedent.

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Origin of obiter dictum

1805–15; <Latin: (a) saying by the way

Words nearby obiter dictum

ob-gyn, obi, Obie, obiit, obit, obiter dictum, obituary, obj., object, object ball, object code

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use obiter dictum in a sentence

"It is an obiter dictum," somebody said to me, apparently thinking that Latin would persuade me.
India’s Twisted Conscience on Terrorism|Dilip D’Souza|February 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The assumption in this obiter dictum seemed to be that Rabelais is an obscene writer.
Impressions And Comments|Havelock Ellis
Purely as an obiter dictum the court discussed briefly the interpretation of the original act in respect to rate-making power.
Railroads: Rates and Regulations|William Z. Ripley
Several decisions not only adopted the obiter dictum of the Osborne case, above described, but proceeded to expand upon it.
Railroads: Rates and Regulations|William Z. Ripley

In the preceding chronicles no mention, I believe, has been made of one little bird that deserves more than a mere obiter dictum.
Birds of the Rockies|Leander Sylvester Keyser
But the judges of the circuit courts know better, and never have enforced that obiter dictum.
Arguments before the Committee on Patents of the House of Representatives, conjointly with the Senate Committee on Patents, on H.R. 19853, to amend and consolidate the acts respecting copyright|United States Committee on Patents

British Dictionary definitions for obiter dictum

obiter dictum

/ (ˈɒbɪtə ˈdɪktəm, ˈəʊ-) /

noun plural obiter dicta (ˈdɪktə)

law an observation by a judge on some point of law not directly in issue in the case before him and thus neither requiring his decision nor serving as a precedent, but nevertheless of persuasive authority

any comment, remark, or observation made in passing

Word Origin for obiter dictum

Latin: something said in passing

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

obiter dictum

Origin of obiter dictum

Words nearby obiter dictum

Words related to obiter dictum

How to use obiter dictum in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for obiter dictum

Word Origin for obiter dictum