obiter dictum
NounWordNet 3.0
Noun (2)
- an incidental remarkSynonyms: obiter dictumpassing comment
- an opinion voiced by a judge on a point of law not directly bearing on the case in question and therefore not bindingSynonyms: obiter dictumdictum
Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)
obiter dictum \obiter dictum\ ([o^]b"[i^]*t[~e]r d[i^]k"t[u^]m), n.; pl. obiter dicta ([o^]b"[i^]*t[~e]r d[i^]k"t[.a]). (Law), An incidental and collateral opinion uttered by a judge. See Dictum, n., 2 (a) . [1913 Webster]