Fact · Dictation
The Cambridge English Dictionary labels dictate as a formal noun, usually used in the plural, meaning an order that should be obeyed, often one that you give to yourself.
Checked against its source on October 17, 2026
In the source's own words
“an order that should be obeyed ... often one that you give to yourself”
Dictate: meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge University Press, 2026, Entry for dictate, noun sense.
Open the original- What it measures
- The noun is marked formal and is shown in the plural, as in the dictates of conscience. It is a different word in use from the noun dictation, which names an act.
- What it does not show
- The noun is uncommon in everyday speech. Dictionaries record it as a formal usage, so a reader should not expect to hear it often.