obiter dictum

UK: /ˈɒbɪtə ˈdɪktəm/ US: (ob′i tər dik′təm)

Inflections of 'obiter dictum' (n): npl: obiter dicta

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ob•i•ter dic•tum  (ob′i tər dik′təm), pl. ob•i•ter dic•ta 

(ob′i tər dik′tə). 
1. Foreign Terms 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.

• Latin: (a) saying by the way
• 1805–15

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

obiter dictum / ˈɒbɪtə ˈdɪktəm ˈəʊ-/ noun ( obiter dicta / ˈdɪktə/)

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

Etymology: Latin: something said in passing