judgment call

noun

1. Sports.,  an observational ruling by a referee or umpire that is necessarily subjective because of the disputable nature of the play in question, and one that may be appealed but not protested, as opposed to a matter of official rule interpretation.

   Balks and close plays at first are of course judgment calls, and umpires are human.

2. any subjective or debatable determination; personal opinion or interpretation.

Word History and Origins

Origin of judgment call¹

First recorded in 1840–50

Related Words

• attitude 
• concept 
• consideration 
• feeling 
• impression 
• judgment 
• mind 
• notion 
• opinion 
• point of view 
• sentiment 
• thought