Definition

An authoritative decree issued by someone in power, essentially the governmental equivalent of 'because I said so.' It's how rulers, judges, and executives make things happen through sheer institutional authority rather than through democratic debate. The term sounds fancy, but it's just Latin for 'let it be done.'

Example Usage

The king issued a fiat declaring the new tax law, leaving parliament to grumble ineffectually.

Source: Legal and political terminology

Related Terms

Translate This Term

See “fiat” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.

Try the Translator