fiat
n. C / Un. an official order or decision made by someone in power. It is often used when a rule is created suddenly without asking others for their opinion.
n. an authoritative decree, sanction, or order. Often implies an arbitrary exercise of power where a decision is made by a single authority rather than through consensus.
The new rules were established by government fiat.
The CEO changed the company's remote work policy by fiat, surprising many employees who expected a consultation period.
In many historical autocracies, the transition from customary law to governance by imperial fiat marked a significant shift in how citizens perceived the legitimacy of the state.
From Latin fīat (“let it be done”).
Commonly appears in the phrase 'by fiat'. Uncountable when referring to the concept of authoritative decree; countable when referring to specific individual orders.