judicial

adjective

ju·​di·​cial jü-ˈdi-shəl 

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

jü-ˈdi-sh(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of judicial in a Sentence

the judicial branch of government

Recent Examples on the Web

One was Mohammed al-Qahtani, who had been arrested under King Abdullah for criticizing the lack of judicial independence. —Edward Felsenthal, Time, 23 July 2025

The firing of a career public servant, lawfully appointed by the court, is another blatant attempt to intimidate anyone that doesn't agree with them and undermine judicial independence. —Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025

But Judge Boasberg’s order was not an act of partisan politics or judicial overreach. —Will Rogers, Baltimore Sun, 22 July 2025

Now the nominations machinery is restarting, and Trump's most controversial judicial nominee is only one step away from the federal bench. —July 21, NPR, 21 July 2025

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

Phrases Containing judicial

• judicial review
• quasi-judicial

Rhymes for judicial

• initial
• official
• simplicial
• surficial
• artificial
• beneficial
• cicatricial
• interstitial
• nonjudicial
• nonofficial
• prejudicial
• sacrificial

Kids Definition

judicial

adjective

ju·​di·​cial ju̇-ˈdish-əl 

1

: of or relating to courts or judges

2

: ordered or enforced by a court

a judicial decision

judicially

-(ə-)lē 

adverb

Legal Definition

judicial

adjective

ju·​di·​cial jü-ˈdi-shəl 

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