adjudicate

verb

ad·​ju·​di·​cate ə-ˈjü-di-ˌkāt 

adjudicated; adjudicating

transitive verb

: to make an official decision about who is right in (a dispute) : to settle judicially

The school board will adjudicate claims made against teachers.

intransitive verb

: to act as judge

The court can adjudicate on this dispute.

adjudicative

ə-ˈjü-di-ˌkā-tiv 

-kə-

adjective

adjudicator

ə-ˈjü-di-ˌkā-tər 

noun

adjudicatory

ə-ˈjü-di-kə-ˌtȯr-ē 

adjective

Did you know?

Adjudicate, which is usually used to mean "to make an official decision about who is right in a dispute," is one of several terms that give testimony to the influence of jus, the Latin word for "law," on our legal language. Others include judgment, judicial, prejudice, jury, justice, injury, and perjury. What's the verdict? Latin "law" words frequently preside in English-speaking courtrooms.

Synonyms

• adjudge
• arbitrate
• decide
• determine
• judge
• referee
• rule (on)
• settle
• umpire

Examples of adjudicate in a Sentence

The board will adjudicate claims made against teachers.

The case was adjudicated in the state courts.

The board will adjudicate when claims are made against teachers.

Recent Examples on the Web

Cindy Murphy, communications director for the Arkansas Department of Public Safety, has said the Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training would set a hearing on White's and King's certification once their criminal charges have been adjudicated. —Sadie Lacicero, arkansasonline.com, 10 Apr. 2024

The total number of children adjudicated on felony charges has fallen from about 9,000 in 2004 to 3,200 in 2022. —Laura A. Bischoff, The Enquirer, 23 Feb. 2024

The Fort Worth City Council will adjudicate the case on Tuesday. —Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Feb. 2024

There is disagreement about whether Thomas actually broke any laws, notably the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, or merely exploited a legal gray area — but which court would ever adjudicate that argument or pass judgment on a Supreme Court justice? —Peter Weber, theweek, 12 Jan. 2024

The legitimacy of these arguments will ultimately be adjudicated by the courts, evaluating them against the U.S. Constitution, the extent of Congressional authority, and the equilibrium between regulatory objectives and individual freedoms. —Matthew Erskine, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

One reason that’s so is that the victims’ claims will be adjudicated based on the value of their crypto holdings at FTX as of the day of the bankruptcy filing, converted into dollars. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024

Respecting the dead International law experts say the desecration of burial grounds contravenes the Rome Statute, the 1998 treaty that established and governs the International Criminal Court (ICC) to adjudicate war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity, and crimes of aggression. —Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2024

Since animals are considered property under Oregon law until the case is adjudicated, the kitten still belongs his original owner, Harmon said. —Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 3 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin adjūdicātus, past participle of adjūdicāre "to adjudge"

First Known Use

circa 1695, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

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Kids Definition

adjudicate

verb

ad·​ju·​di·​cate ə-ˈjüd-i-ˌkāt 

adjudicated; adjudicating

: to decide, award, or sentence judicially

adjudicate a claim

adjudication

-ˌjüd-i-ˈkā-shən

noun

Legal Definition

adjudicate

verb

ad·​ju·​di·​cate ə-ˈjü-di-ˌkāt 

adjudicated; adjudicating

transitive verb

1

: to settle either finally or temporarily (the rights and duties of the parties to a judicial or quasi-judicial proceeding) on the merits of the issues raised

2

: to pass judgment on as a judge : settle judicially

3

: to pronounce judicially to be

was adjudicated a bankrupt

was adjudicated the child's father

4

: to convey by judicial sale

intransitive verb

: to come to a judicial decision : act as judge

the court adjudicated upon the case

adjudication

ə-ˌjü-di-ˈkā-shən 

noun

adjudicative

ə-ˈjü-di-ˌkā-tiv, -kə-

noun

adjudicator

-ˌkā-tər 

noun

Etymology

Latin adjudicare to award in judgment, from ad to, for + judicare to judge see judge