Dictate

/ˈdɪk.teɪt/

Meaning & Definition

noun

An authoritative order or command.

The general issued a dictate that all troops must report by dawn.

A guiding principle or requirement.

The dictate of fairness guided their decision-making process.

verb

To say or read (something) aloud for another person to transcribe or to make a recording of.

The manager decided to dictate a memo for the assistant to type up.

To prescribe or lay down authoritatively; to determine with authority.

The terms of the contract will dictate how the project will proceed.

To control or influence something in a significant way.

Economic conditions can dictate the success of a business.

Late Middle English: from Latin 'dictare', frequentative of 'dicere' 'to say'.

dictate terms

To specify the conditions under which something will happen.

to dictate to someone

To give orders or instructions to someone.

dictation

The action of saying words aloud to be transcribed.

dictatorial

Of or typical of a ruler with total power.

To take control or have the final say.

He's got the final dictate on this project.