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

Example Sentences

The decision to cut rates or pause rates next month requires “a judgment call about where the risks of not moving are, and where the risks of moving are,” she said.

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That is a high threshold and a judgment call.

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Another judgment call: Under the accounting rules, Meta would have to include the residual-value guarantee in its lease liabilities if the payments owed are “probable.”

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The bottom line: You need to make a judgment call as to how prepared you are to manage the money and pick the most prudent option.

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Szabo, while addressing the council, called the decision on the expansion “the ultimate judgment call that only you can make.”

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Related Words

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