as in principle
formal
a statement or well-known remark that expresses an important idea, observation, or opinion
A doctor must follow the dictum of "First, do no harm."
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Recent Examples of dictum
But for political principals to insist on editing procedures or outcomes is certainly inconsistent with the First Amendment’s dictum regarding the press and maintaining the media’s freedom from government interference.
—
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 25 Apr. 2025
The next Democrat to become president, Bill Clinton, won election in 1992 in part by stressing his adherence to Reagan’s free-market dictums.
—Jennifer M. Harris, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Meanwhile, over the last quarter century, firms had already begun implementing the converse of Taylor’s dictum.
—Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
The Marquess of Queensberry rules for boxing, 12 dictum which (among other changes) separated fighters by weight class and mandated the use of padded gloves, were promulgated in 1867.
—Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictum
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 25 Apr. 2025
The next Democrat to become president, Bill Clinton, won election in 1992 in part by stressing his adherence to Reagan’s free-market dictums.
—Jennifer M. Harris, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Meanwhile, over the last quarter century, firms had already begun implementing the converse of Taylor’s dictum.
—Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
The Marquess of Queensberry rules for boxing, 12 dictum which (among other changes) separated fighters by weight class and mandated the use of padded gloves, were promulgated in 1867.
—Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dictum
Noun
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That country has agreed in principle to a 40% tariff on any goods that flow across its borders from China, which has happened with increasing frequency as the United States has ramped up barriers to goods coming from China directly.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
9 July 2025
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Working to apply this precise principle across his firm’s estate of technologies is Raghu Malpani in his role as chief technology officer at agentic automation company UiPath.—
Adrian Bridgwater,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
Noun
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Around the country, state lawmakers are twisting tax codes, raiding campus funds and rewriting financial rules to keep their flagship programs competitive.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 July 2025
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The rules on how the league decides on replacements are not public.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
12 July 2025
Noun
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In recent years, Brazil has become increasingly fragmented, amplified by a widespread subscription to hateful doctrines, culture wars, anti-intellectualism, disinformation on social media, apocalyptic messaging, doomsday conspiracy theories, and ethno-religious identity politics.—
Emi Eleode,
Time,
14 July 2025
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Church doctrine also calls for the pope to be buried four to six days after his death, unless there are extenuating circumstances.—
Haadiza Ogwude,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Noun
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To prove those true statements, mathematicians would have to add a new axiom.—
Gregory Barber,
Quanta Magazine,
20 June 2025
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In his first inaugural address in 1933, former President Franklin D. Roosevelt laid out a political axiom that would come to shrewdly diagnose America's thorny brand of insularity.—
Clare Morell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 May 2025
Noun
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Nowhere is this truer than Wimbledon, which has always been a law unto itself. — Caoimhe O’Neill contributed reporting.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
6 July 2025
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Sotomayor wrote her own dissent of the majority’s ruling that fuel producers can challenge California emissions standards under a federal air pollution law.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
6 July 2025
Noun
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In a realignment era when rivalries (and trophies) are forced upon fan bases, Notre Dame-Clemson has grown organically, fed by moments that would define seasons and careers.—
Pete Sampson,
New York Times,
9 July 2025
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And while the Texas outbreak has slowed significantly, across the country, Rivers says the U.S. is now seeing more cases on a weekly basis than in previous years.—
Maria Godoy,
NPR,
9 July 2025
Noun
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Kennedy’s views of individual ingredients oscillate between commonsense dietary maxims and conspiratorial musings.—
Nicholas Florko,
The Atlantic,
23 June 2025
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The maxim for so long in international trade has been to remove all sand from the gears.—
Ken Roberts,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dictum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dictum. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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