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GLOSSARY

Obiter dictum definition

What does Obiter dictum mean?

Latin for 'said in passing'.

At the end of a case, a judge states the official reasoning for the verdict (ratio dedicendi). Whilst providing the judicial ruling, the judge often also makes comments, in relation to the facts presented, which are not binding authority and are only meant to be obiter dictum (often referred to as just 'dictum' or 'obiter'). Obiter dictum statements are a remark or opinion, 'by the way', and not officially part of the ruling, nor precedential for other cases. Remarks or opinions of this nature are often made by way of illustration, argument, analogy or suggestion of an altered outcome if the fact of the case were different.


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