1. Plural of dictum; authoritative statements, pronouncements, or sayings.
Usage: formal; often used in legal, academic, or philosophical contexts
2. In law, judicial opinions or rulings that are not essential to the decision of a case (obiter dicta).
Usage: legal; technical

Examples

• The judge's dicta on constitutional interpretation influenced future legal scholars.
• Ancient philosophers left behind many dicta that still guide ethical thinking today.
• The court's dicta regarding free speech were noted but not binding on lower courts.
• Her dicta on leadership have become widely quoted in business schools.
• The professor challenged the traditional dicta of the discipline.
• Legal dicta from previous cases provide guidance for interpreting new statutes.