judicial

American  

[joo-dish-uhl] / dʒuˈdɪʃ əl /

adjective

1. pertaining to judgment in courts of justice or to the administration of justice.

   judicial proceedings; the judicial system.

   Synonyms:

   juridical

2. pertaining to courts of law or to judges; judiciary.

   judicial functions.

   Synonyms:

   forensic, juridical

3. of or relating to a judge; proper to the character of a judge; judgelike.

   judicial gravity.

4. inclined to make or give judgments; critical; discriminating.

   a judicial mind.

5. decreed, sanctioned, or enforced by a court.

   a judicial decision.

6. giving or seeking judgment, as in a dispute or contest; determinative.

   a judicial duel over lands.

7. inflicted by God as a judgment or punishment.

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judicial British  

/ dʒuːˈdɪʃəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the administration of justice

2. of or relating to judgment in a court of law or to a judge exercising this function

3. inclined to pass judgment; discriminating

4. allowed or enforced by a court of law

   a decree of judicial separation

5. having qualities appropriate to a judge

6. giving or seeking judgment, esp determining or seeking determination of a contested issue

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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

• judicially adverb
• judicialness noun
• nonjudicial adjective
• nonjudicially adverb
• semijudicial adjective
• semijudicially adverb
• subjudicial adjective
• subjudicially adverb
• superjudicial adjective
• superjudicially adverb
• unjudicial adjective
• unjudicially adverb

Etymology

Origin of judicial

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin jūdiciālis of the law courts, equivalent to jūdici ( um ) judgment ( judge, -ium ) + -ālis -al ¹

Example Sentences

At the time the U.S. began pursuing the tanker, the Bella 1 was a stateless vessel flying a false flag and subject to a judicial seizure order, according to the White House.

From The Wall Street Journal

The legislation also would delay court fees until the end of judicial proceedings.

From Los Angeles Times

Tobias said he was unaware of any precedent for a president suing a sitting Fed chair over management and doubted such a case would survive serious judicial scrutiny.

From Barron's

Immigration raids: Federal immigration agents are barred from nonpublic areas of public schools unless they have a judicial warrant or court order.

From Los Angeles Times

When the U.S. began pursuing the Bella 1, the White House said it was a sanctioned vessel under a judicial seizure order and that it was flying a false flag.

From The Wall Street Journal