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decree

n. · v.
US //dɪˈkɹi// UK //dɪkɹˈiː// de·cree
  1. 1 official law or order (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Law

    an official order or rule made by a government or a leader.

    an authoritative order having the force of law, typically issued by a head of state or government.

    Example

    The president issued a decree to change the national holiday.

    Example

    The emergency decree was signed into law at midnight, granting the executive branch sweeping powers to manage the escalating crisis.
  2. 2 court decision (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Formal Technical Law

    a final decision made by a judge in a court of law.

    the judicial decision or determination of a litigated cause, particularly in courts of equity, probate, or admiralty.

    Example

    The court's final decree settled the dispute over the family property.

    Example

    The final decree of the probate court distributed the remaining assets among the distant relatives, ending three years of bitter litigation.
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  1. 3 divine will (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Formal Literary Religion

    a decision or plan made by God.

    a predetermination or act of providence attributed to a divine power.

    Example

    In many old stories, the hero's path is fixed by a divine decree.

    Example

    Theologians debated whether human suffering was the result of a divine decree or the consequence of free will.
  2. 4 to order officially (v.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    to officially decide or order that something must happen.

    to command, ordain, or decide by authoritative order. Transitive — usually takes a 'that' clause or a direct object.

    Example

    The king decreed that all citizens must pay a new tax.

    Example

    The council decreed that the historic district would be preserved, effectively halting all modern construction projects in the city centre.
Origin

From Middle English decre, decree, from Old French decré (French décret), from Latin dēcrētum.

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