Fiat Meaning
/ˈfaɪæt/Definition, CEFR level C2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounAn arbitrary or authoritative command or order to do something; an effectual decree.
nounAuthorization, permission or (official) sanction.
Sentence Examples
The current college works by presidential fiat.
Mary's car is a Fiat.
Fiat is a historic brand in the Italian automotive industry.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The emperor ruled by ____ rather than by a democratic process.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The new rules were introduced by government ____, without any prior consultation with the affected groups.
Word Origin & History
From Latin fīat (“let it be done”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The reflection that the fate of a fellow-creature depended on his sole fiat, would naturally inspire scrupulousness and caution; [...]"
— 1788, Alexander Hamilton, Federalist no. 73:
"Beatrice raised her head: she looked at me as if on my words hung the fiat of life or death, fear and earnestness dilating her dark eyes—for an unconfessed hope had arisen within her."
— 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XII, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume II, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 142:
"It must be an absolute fiat - something of the nature of a Mystery or of Religion or Magic - and not to be disputed."
— 1920, Edward Carpenter, Pagan and Christian Creeds, New York: Harcourt, Brace and Co., published 1921, page 195:
"The increases from December 4 in the prices of table d'hôte meals in British Railways restaurant cars were expected, in view both of a general upward trend in meal prices in the catering trade and of the fiat that train meals must pay for themselves."
— 1962 February, “Talking of Trains: Dearer meals in B.R. trains”, in Modern Railways, page 78:
"But let us trace a little more particularly the differences between the "fiat" dollar and the greenback. The greenback, in common with every bank note any of you have ever seen, contains a promise to pay dollars."
— 1888, Lew Wallace, Life of Gen. Ben Harrison, page 281:
Explore More C2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The emperor ruled by ____ rather than by a democratic process.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The new rules were introduced by government ____, without any prior consultation with the affected groups.