value judgment

American  

noun

1. an estimate, usually subjective, of the worth, quality, goodness, evil, etc., of something or someone.

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value judgment British  

noun

1. a subjective assessment based on one's own code of values or that of one's class

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value judgment Cultural  

1. An assessment of a person, situation, or event. The term is often restricted to assessments that reveal the values of the person making the assessment rather than the objective realities of what is being assessed.

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We often make value judgments without realizing that we are doing so. For example, a teacher who describes a student as “the best I've ever taught — very polite and obedient” is making a value judgment about the qualities (politeness and obedience) that make a student good.

Etymology

Origin of value judgment

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

Mr. Soucek is correct that universities unavoidably communicate value judgments when they name buildings, award prizes and promote free inquiry.

From The Wall Street Journal

That isn’t a value judgment on Mr. Musk, his businesses or wealth.

From Barron's

That isn’t a value judgment on Mr. Musk, his businesses or wealth.

From Barron's

That isn’t a value judgment on Mr. Musk, his businessesb or wealth.

From Barron's

Like it or not, those terms have value judgments attached to them that can be hard to square with the mounting evidence that microchimeric cells might do more good than harm.

From The Wall Street Journal