Definition of obiter dictum

The legal term "obiter dictum" refers to a statement made by a judge in a legal decision that is not necessary for resolving the case at hand. In Latin, "obiter" means "by the way" and "dictum" means "something said." When used in a legal context, "obiter dictum" refers to a judge's non-binding comment, opinion, or rationale that goes beyond what is required to decide the particular case. Although such statements are not authoritative precedent, they may still be regarded as persuasive authority by other judges in future legal proceedings. The use of "obiter dictum" is particularly common in common law jurisdictions, where judge-made law is an important part of the legal system.