dictum

"You are what you eat" is a dictum, and so is a law requiring you to curb your dog. A dictum is a formal pronouncement, a rule, or a statement that expresses a truth universally acknowledged.

Dictum dates from the 16th Century. It descended from a Latin word that means "something said." In contemporary use, it means more like "something that is officially said." If the principal of your school issues a dictum declaring "no jeans in school," it's time to go shopping.

Definitions of dictum
  1. noun
    an authoritative declaration
    synonyms: pronouncement, say-so
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    types:
    directive
    a pronouncement encouraging or banning some activity
    Presidential Directive
    a directive issued by the President of the United States; usually addressed to all heads of departments and agencies
    type of:
    declaration
    a statement that is emphatic and explicit (spoken or written)
  2. noun
    an opinion voiced by a judge on a point of law not directly bearing on the case in question and therefore not binding
    synonyms: obiter dictum
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    type of:
    judgement, judgment, legal opinion, opinion
    the legal document stating the reasons for a judicial decision
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