obiter dictum

noun

Definition of obiter dictumnext
as in analysis

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of obiter dictum Unfortunately, the Pennsylvania appellate court did not stop there, although what follows is no more than obiter dictum or, in English, just the non-precedential musings of the court. — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 14 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obiter dictum
  1. analysis
  2. aside
Noun
  • According to the complaint, when users activate AI features, imagery and audio can be transmitted to Meta’s servers for analysis and, the plaintiffs allege, ultimately used to train Meta’s AI models.
    — Joshua Hong, Fortune, 4 Sep. 2026
  • But energy prices are up significantly, which is eating into people's budgets, especially among lower-income households, according to an analysis from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
    — Willa Rubin, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of analysis
Noun
  • The admission, an aside in a wide-ranging interview, raised eyebrows in the recovery community given the star’s very public embrace of sobriety after joining a 12-step program following his 2016 split from wife Angelina Jolie.
    — Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The pacing feels off throughout much of the film, with comic and contemplative asides gumming up the central caper.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of aside

Browse Nearby Words

obiter dicta
obiter dictum
obits
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Cite this Entry

“Obiter dictum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obiter%20dictum. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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