decree nisi
Preserved but no longer current.
A decree of divorce granted on. the condition that it does not take effect until made absolute, which is done in due course unless reasons why it should not have mean- time come to light. Every decree of divorce is, in the first instance, a decree nisi.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “decree nisi” mean?
A decree of divorce granted on. the condition that it does not take effect until made absolute, which is done in due course unless reasons why it should not have mean- time come to light. Every decree of divorce is, in the first instance, a decree nisi.
Is “decree nisi” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.