dicta
dicta — noun
1. a formal remark or written statement that carries weight and is considered worth
a formal remark or written statement that carries weight and is considered worth remembering or quoting, often because of who said it
The philosopher's dicta on justice are still quoted in universities around the world.
plural noun used with plural verb 'are quoted'
Vivek framed the CEO's dicta about innovation and hung them in the office lobby.
During the conference, Devika quoted several dicta from industry leaders to support her argument.
The general's dicta on military strategy became required reading for new officers.
Scholars still debate those dicta, disagreeing about what the author truly meant.
- pronouncement
emphasises an official or formal tone
- declaration
broader in meaning, can be less weighty than dicta
- maxim
a short, well-known saying expressing a general truth, narrower than dicta
- assertion
focuses on the forceful claim rather than the authority of the speaker
用法筆記
Dicta (pronounced DIK-tə) is the plural of dictum. The singular dictum is used when referring to one such statement. This word is rare in everyday conversation and appears mostly in formal writing, academic commentary, and legal documents.
常見錯誤
2. a remark within a court ruling where a judge discusses a legal point not essenti
a remark within a court ruling where a judge discusses a legal point not essential to the outcome, so the comment does not count as binding precedent for future cases
The judge's dicta on copyright law were cited often despite not being binding.
contrast: dicta vs binding precedent
Lawyers study helpful dicta in appeals court rulings to predict how the court might rule next.
Although the ruling favored the defendant, the judge added dicta criticizing the company's safety record.
The appeals court's dicta on privacy rights hinted at how future cases might be decided.
Joaquín found useful dicta in older Supreme Court rulings that supported his client's position.
- obiter dictum
the full Latin term; dicta is the shortened plural form
- commentary
less formal and less specific to legal contexts
- remark
general term, lacks the legal authority connotation
- observation
similar to remark, neutral in register
- ratio decidendi
the binding legal principle on which a case is decided
- holding
the court's actual decision on the issue before it
用法筆記
In legal contexts, dicta (short for obiter dicta) refers specifically to a judge's remarks that are not part of the binding holding of a case. The binding part is called the ratio decidendi. Lawyers use dicta to suggest how a court might think about a legal issue, but they cannot rely on dicta as binding precedent.