PoliticsAugust 15, 2026

diktats

DIK-tats

Definition

Authoritative or harsh commands, orders, or decrees, typically imposed by someone in power without discussion or compromise.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'dictatum', meaning 'a thing spoken or dictated'. It entered English via German in the early 20th century, originally referring to the harsh terms imposed on a defeated nation.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe the military's demands on the Shehbaz Sharif government, implying that these are non-negotiable mandates the civilian leadership is forced to accept.

Pakistan’s Next Change of Government? Why Shehbaz Sharif May Be on Borrowed Time

Read the full article ↗

orfonline.org

Related words

Learn words like this every day

Meet new words every morning.

Newspoken pulls carefully chosen words from the day’s news — with clear definitions, context, and light review that makes them stick. Get it on your phone.