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Glite Dictionary
ukase

ukase

9.9
An official order from a ruler or government, often in imperial Russia
  • noun
  • /juˈkeɪs/
  • Archaic
translation icon : ukase
  • In imperial Russia, a ukase could change the law overnight, affecting thousands of lives.

Examples

  • The tsar issued a ukase that mandated the construction of new public buildings in the city.

  • But of course, since the anti-Ryan talking point handed by ukase to the press from Obama is that Ryan's budget ideas are "social Darwinism," we'll get to hear about how much Ayn Rand from everybody by Paul Ryan.

    Blog text (13)

  • The governor's latest ukase required all citizens to register their vehicles by the end of the month.

Synonyms

imperial decree
vsukase
  • Formal
1 8.4

An official order from an emperor or ruler that people must follow

is specific to the Russian ruler or government rather than any empire
firman
vsukase
  • Archaic
9.9

A written official order from a ruler, often in the Ottoman Empire

is used for orders by the Russian ruler or government not the Ottoman ruler

Idioms

to issue a ukase
  • Formal
9.9

To give a strict official order that people must follow

How Authoritative

ukase
  • Archaic
9.9
order
∞ 3.0
proclamation
  • Formal
59 5.5
announcement
738 1.5

Surface Forms

ukase singular
ukases plural

Etymology

Ukase comes from the Russian word ukaz, meaning 'order' or 'decree', and it was used for an official command from the tsar or government. So a ukase today means a strong official order or edict that people are expected to obey.