judgment

[juhj-muhnt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR judgment ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

an act or instance of judging.

the ability to judge, make a decision, or form an opinion objectively, authoritatively, and wisely, especially in matters affecting action; good sense; discretion: a man of sound judgment.

the demonstration or exercise of such ability or capacity: The major was decorated for the judgment he showed under fire.

the forming of an opinion, estimate, notion, or conclusion, as from circumstances presented to the mind: Our judgment as to the cause of his failure must rest on the evidence.

the opinion formed: He regretted his hasty judgment.

Law.

a judicial decision given by a judge or court.
the obligation, especially a debt, arising from a judicial decision.
the certificate embodying such a decision and issued against the obligor, especially a debtor.

a misfortune regarded as inflicted by divine sentence, as for sin.

(usually initial capital letter) Also called Last Judgment, Final Judgment. the final trial of all people, both the living and dead, at the end of the world.

Also especially British, judge·ment.

Origin of judgment

1250–1300; Middle English jug(g)ement < Old French jugement, equivalent to juge- (stem of jugier to judge) + -ment -ment

Related formsin·ter·judg·ment, nounre·judg·ment, noun

Synonyms for judgment

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR judgment ON THESAURUS.COM

1. determination. 2. discrimination, discernment, perspicacity; sagacity, wisdom, intelligence, prudence. 6a. verdict, decree.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for judgment

intuition, perception, knowledge, intelligence, prudence, experience, understanding, acumen, sense, wisdom, reasoning, awareness, sentence, idea, result, decree, review, inquiry, resolution, finding

Examples from the Web for judgment

Contemporary Examples of judgment

Interesting that those who sat in judgment of him found those two sets of beliefs to be incompatible.
In Defense of Blasphemy
Michael Tomasky
January 9, 2015
[These actions] call into question not only their judgment but how true the effort is to expanding into those communities.
GOP Boss Gets Help From ‘White Hate’ Pal
Tim Mak
December 30, 2014
We have reached a tipping point in the culture where Americans are now trained to look to the rules instead of their own judgment.
Red Tape Is Strangling Good Samaritans
Philip K. Howard
December 27, 2014
In short, the existing data makes fracking seem like a judgment call.
New York’s Conservative Fracking Ban
Jay Michaelson
December 20, 2014
Taken to its logical conclusion, the “not me” judgment can lead us to regard other human beings as not human at all!
Ferguson, Immigration, and ‘Us Vs. Them’
Gene Robinson
November 27, 2014

Historical Examples of judgment

"The spring has gotten a strangle-hold on my judgment," he said to himself.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
I'd rather trust your judgment now than lots of older men down there.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
They performed their present office with integrity and judgment.
The Christmas Banquet (From "Mosses From An Old Manse")
Nathaniel Hawthorne
It would be an affront to your own judgment, if you did not: For do you not ask my advice?
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson
The execution is left entirely to your judgment and address.
A Sketch of the Life of Brig. Gen. Francis Marion
William Dobein James

British Dictionary definitions for judgment

judgment

judgement

noun

the faculty of being able to make critical distinctions and achieve a balanced viewpoint; discernment

the decision or verdict pronounced by a court of law
an obligation arising as a result of such a decision or verdict, such as a debt
the document recording such a decision or verdict
(as modifier)a judgment debtor

the formal decision of one or more judges at a contest or competition

a particular decision or opinion formed in a case in dispute or doubt

an estimationa good judgment of distance

criticism or censure

logic

the act of establishing a relation between two or more terms, esp as an affirmation or denial
the expression of such a relation

against one's better judgment contrary to a more appropriate or preferred course of action

sit in judgment

to preside as judge
to assume the position of critic

in someone's judgment in someone's opinion

Judgment

noun

the estimate by God of the ultimate worthiness or unworthiness of the individual (the Particular Judgment) or of all mankind (the General Judgment or Last Judgment)

God's subsequent decision determining the final destinies of all individuals

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for judgment

mid-13c., "action of trying at law, trial," also "capacity for making decisions," from Old French jugement "legal judgment; diagnosis; the Last Judgment" (11c.), from jugier (see judge (v.)). From late 13c. as "penalty imposed by a court;" early 14c. as "any authoritative decision, verdict." From c.1300 in referfence to the Last Judgment. Also from c.1300 as "opinion." Sense of "discernment" is first recorded 1530s.

Idioms and Phrases with judgment

judgment

see against one's better judgment; snap judgment.