# fiat

/ˈfaɪæt/ (US) · /fˈiːət/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fiat
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. an official decree

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

an official order or command given by a person or group with power.

For teachers: an arbitrary or authoritative command or decree issued by a person or body in power.

- The new rules were established by government fiat rather than by a vote.
- The monarch ruled by fiat, bypassing the traditional consultative councils to implement sweeping changes to the tax code.

Usage: Often used in the phrase 'by fiat' to describe how a decision was made.

### 2. fiat currency

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Academic

money that has value because the government says it is legal tender, not because it is backed by gold.

For teachers: currency that is not backed by a physical commodity, such as gold or silver, but is established as legal tender by government regulation.

- Most modern countries use a fiat system for their national currency.
- The transition from the gold standard to a fiat system allowed central banks greater flexibility in managing national monetary policy.

Usage: Frequently used as an attributive noun in the phrase 'fiat money' or 'fiat currency'.

### 3. to issue a command

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal · Literary

to give an official order or to make something happen by using your power.

For teachers: to issue an authoritative decree or to bring something into being through an act of will or command.

- The leader attempted to fiat a new era of prosperity through strict laws.
- The council sought to fiat the reorganization of the district, though they lacked the legislative standing to enforce such a change.

## Examples

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.