judicial

adjective

ju·​di·​cial jü-ˈdi-shəl How to pronounce judicial (audio)
1
a
: of or relating to a judgment, the function of judging, the administration of justice, or the judiciary
judicial processes
judicial powers
b
: belonging to the branch of government that is charged with trying all cases that involve the government and with the administration of justice within its jurisdiction compare executive, legislative
2
: ordered or enforced by a court
a judicial sale
3
: belonging or appropriate to a judge or the judiciary
judicial robes
judicial dignity
4
: of, characterized by, or expressing judgment : critical sense 2d
5
: arising from a judgment of God
judicially adverb

Examples of judicial in a Sentence

the judicial branch of government
Recent Examples on the Web Griffin, who worked as a government eligibility technician for the county, was taken before a local judicial official who issued an unsecured bond of $1,500. Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 4 Mar. 2024 Only those who have been convicted of a felony, filed for bankruptcy, or were found to not meet judicial performance standards would be listed on the ballot. Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 3 Mar. 2024 Justice Thomas also helped Clanton, who graduated in 2022, line up a prestigious judicial clerkship with Chief Judge William H. Pryor, Jr., of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Jane Mayer, The New Yorker, 29 Feb. 2024 That, too, was prompt by judicial standards but hardly an example of blazing speed. Adam Liptak, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024 Maldonado, 48, is among five new judicial nominees named by Biden in his announcement. Nicole Acevedo, NBC News, 23 Feb. 2024 The rulings that the judge made in the case against Lindsey Hill, before it was settled, brought front and center the idea that actually there was no judicial conclusion. Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2024 Establishing a connection with the judicial rulings and reflecting them on-chain will allow regulators to do their jobs effectively in the blockchain sphere. Victoria Chynoweth, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 But last summer, after Russia’s politicized judicial system added 19 years for extremism to previous sentences totaling more than 11 years, Navalny wrote a long post on social media comparing himself to former Soviet dissident Natan Sharansky and accepting his fate as a political prisoner. Catherine Belton, Washington Post, 16 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'judicial.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin judicialis, from judicium judgment, from judex — see judge entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of judicial was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near judicial

Cite this Entry

“Judicial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/judicial. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

judicial

adjective
ju·​di·​cial ju̇-ˈdish-əl How to pronounce judicial (audio)
1
: of or relating to courts or judges
2
: ordered or enforced by a court
a judicial decision
judicially adverb

Legal Definition

judicial

adjective
ju·​di·​cial jü-ˈdi-shəl How to pronounce judicial (audio)
1
a
: of or relating to a judgment, the function of judging, the administration of justice, or the judiciary
b
: of, relating to, or being the branch of government that is charged with trying all cases that involve the government and with the administration of justice within its jurisdiction compare administrative sense 2, executive sense 1, legislative
2
: created, ordered, or enforced by a court
a judicial foreclosure
compare conventional sense 1, legal sense 2c
judicially adverb
Etymology

Latin judicialis, from judicium judgment, from judic-, judex judge, from jus right, law + dicere to determine, say

More from Merriam-Webster on judicial

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