fiat

An order made by someone with power, which others are expected to obey.

• The king issued a fiat.
• The fees were increased by government fiat.
• An executive fiat ended the debate without a vote.

How to use it: by fiat (The ruler changed the law by fiat.)

Similar words: decree, order, command

Common phrases: by fiat, royal fiat, government fiat

Money whose value comes from government acceptance rather than a link to gold or another valuable material.

• You can pay in fiat.
• She converted her cryptocurrency into fiat.
• Unlike gold-backed money, fiat depends on trust in the issuing government.

Similar words: fiat currency, fiat money

Common phrases: convert to fiat, pay in fiat, fiat currency

Official permission for something to happen.

• The project received the minister's fiat.
• Work could begin once the government granted its fiat.
• They sought an official fiat for the proposed scheme.

Similar words: authorization, permission, approval

Opposites: prohibition

Common phrases: government fiat, ministerial fiat, receive a fiat

A judge's written order allowing a particular legal step to be taken.

• The judge signed the fiat.
• A judicial fiat allowed the proceedings to begin.
• The clerk waited for the court's fiat before taking the next step.

Similar words: warrant, court order

Common phrases: judicial fiat, judge's fiat, issue a fiat

To make something happen, especially by simply deciding that it will happen in an imagined situation.

• The author fiats a peaceful ending.
• In this debate, we fiat that the policy takes effect.
• The game designer fiated a bridge into existence.

How to use it: fiat something into existence (The storyteller fiats a new world into existence.)

Similar words: bring about, cause

Common phrases: fiat something into existence, fiat an outcome

To give an official order using your power or authority.

• The king fiated a new tax.
• The council fiated that all shops close early.
• Officials cannot simply fiat changes without legal authority.

How to use it: fiat that… (The ruler fiated that the gates remain closed.)

Similar words: decree, order, command

Common phrases: fiat that something, fiat a change