adjudicator

Definition of adjudicatornext
1
as in referee
a person who impartially decides or resolves a dispute or controversy since they seemed to be in a hopeless stalemate, both labor and management agreed to use an independent adjudicator to decide the terms of the contract

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in judge
a public official having authority to decide questions of law the appellate court refused to hear the case, thus allowing the judgment of previous adjudicators to stand

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of adjudicator Confirming the fort’s record breaking size required a visit from an official Guinness World Records adjudicator. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 4 June 2026 The competition included 23 players who supplied preliminary video performances; adjudicators selected 12 finalists. Eric E. Harrison, Arkansas Online, 6 May 2026 The judge prohibited redetention without notice and a hearing before a neutral adjudicator. Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026 The instructors at the Atomic Ballroom, based in Costa Mesa, led the dance record effort, giving a step-by-step instruction to those who showed up, the Guinness World Record adjudicator counting the crowd. Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 19 Apr. 2026 Michael Empric, a Guinness World Records adjudicator, said rules require all food used in record attempts to be eaten or donated. Tassanee Vejpongsa, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026 Michael Empric, a Guinness World Records adjudicator, said rules require all food used in record attempts to be eaten or donated. ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026 The Record-Breaking Moment The official attempt took place on the Italian TV show Lo Show Dei Record in Milan, with Guinness World Records adjudicator Sofia Greenacre overseeing the proceedings. Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Mar. 2026 Thomas Bradford is one of 81 adjudicators the company employs across six continents. Cecilia Vega, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adjudicator
Noun
  • The side referee puts up the flag for offside, and this one remains scoreless in the early going.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 June 2026
  • After a lengthy replay review, the referee ruled that Sulaka should be given a red card.
    Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 27 June 2026
Noun
  • If someone does not have a final order of removal, then there's a removal proceedings process and that starts with them being issued a notice to appear before an immigration judge.
    Dana Taylor, USA Today, 26 June 2026
  • The district attorney’s office has claimed in court filings that prosecutors maintain older records of juvenile delinquency proceedings that are not available to the myriad other people vetting claims in the settlement, including multiple judges and the State Bar.
    Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • After the Pride coach addressed the home plate umpire, words were exchanged between the coach and first base umpire who then got face-to-face with the coach.
    Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2026
  • Jake Mangum then hit a grounder to third baseman Kyle Karros, and the game ended when umpires determined Karros was interfered with by Billy Cook.
    CBS News, CBS News, 21 June 2026
Noun
  • Those arrested for criminal conduct must be held accountable in our court system.
    Boston Herald editorial staff, Boston Herald, 24 June 2026
  • The court was also shown a surveillance video from a day before the hearing where Porter was seen attacking a juvenile court staffer and trying to escape.
    Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Adjudicator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adjudicator. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster