judicial
Americanadjective
-
pertaining to judgment in courts of justice or to the administration of justice.
judicial proceedings; the judicial system.
- Synonyms:
- juridical
-
pertaining to courts of law or to judges; judiciary.
judicial functions.
-
of or relating to a judge; proper to the character of a judge; judgelike.
judicial gravity.
-
inclined to make or give judgments; critical; discriminating.
a judicial mind.
-
decreed, sanctioned, or enforced by a court.
a judicial decision.
-
giving or seeking judgment, as in a dispute or contest; determinative.
a judicial duel over lands.
-
inflicted by God as a judgment or punishment.
adjective
-
of or relating to the administration of justice
-
of or relating to judgment in a court of law or to a judge exercising this function
-
inclined to pass judgment; discriminating
-
allowed or enforced by a court of law
a decree of judicial separation
-
having qualities appropriate to a judge
-
giving or seeking judgment, esp determining or seeking determination of a contested issue
Usage
What does judicial mean? Judicial describes something related to courts of law or judges. For example, a judicial review refers to a court reviewing the action of an administrative, legislative, or executive branch of government. Broadly, judicial can refer to any part of the legal process, but it often relates directly to a judge and their practices. Judges make judicial decisions, and any court process that involves the judge making a decision is referred to as judicial. Judicial can also be used to describe something or someone as critical or discriminating or inclined to making judgments. If you look carefully at both sides of an argument before making a serious decision, you could be described as being judicial in your decision-making. Example: The judicial branch of government evaluates and upholds the law.
Related Words
See judicious.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of judicial
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin jūdiciālis of the law courts, equivalent to jūdici ( um ) judgment ( see judge, -ium) + -ālis -al 1
Explanation
If your situation has anything to do with the administration of justice or involves a judge, then it's officially judicial. And you should probably get a lawyer. Judicial comes to us all the way from the Latin word judex, which means — you guessed it — "judge." But while judicial is most often used when describing legal proceedings, it can also be used to describe anyone who has to judge something in a fair way. Film critics are expected to give judicial reviews, just as the judges of a pie baking contest must be judicial in their assessment of each scrumptious dessert.
Vocabulary lists containing judicial
You Be the Judge: Jud, Jur, Jus
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U.S. Government Lingo
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List 6
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
There were also differences between legal experts — those most intimately involved in the judicial system — and the public at large.
From Los Angeles Times • May 24, 2026
Imagine police responding to a robbery by obtaining judicial permission to open every safety deposit box in a neighborhood bank, briefly inspect the contents, and determine afterward which customers seem suspicious.
From Slate • May 20, 2026
Your editorial praises a judicial opinion that misunderstands the 340B program.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026
"You're not really surprised that they have involvement in the judicial system afterwards as they grow up into adults."
From BBC • May 18, 2026
In relation to judicial rhetoric, he investigates what we mean by justice and fairness.
From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
