obiter dictum








noun, plural ob·i·ter dic·ta [ob-i-ter dik-tuh] /ˈɒb ɪ tər ˈdɪk tə/.

  1. an incidental or passing remark, opinion, etc.
  2. Law. an incidental or supplementary opinion by a judge in deciding a case, upon a matter not essential to the decision, and therefore not binding as precedent.

noun plural obiter dicta (ˈdɪktə)

  1. law an observation by a judge on some point of law not directly in issue in the case before him and thus neither requiring his decision nor serving as a precedent, but nevertheless of persuasive authority
  2. any comment, remark, or observation made in passing

“statement in passing,” a judge’s expression of opinion not regarded as binding or decisive, Latin, literally “something said incidentally;” see obiter + dictum.

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