judiciary

noun

ju·​di·​cia·​ry jü-ˈdi-shē-ˌer-ē  -ˈdi-shə-rē 

1

a

: a system of courts of law

b

: the judges of these courts

2

: a branch of government in which judicial power is vested

judiciary adjective

Examples of judiciary in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Amnesty International has urged Syria to end trials in absentia and the use of the death penalty, incorporate crimes under international law into domestic legislation and reform the judiciary. — Paula Hancocks, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026

The League also held candidate forums in races for the Broward judiciary, School Board, state House and County Commission District 6. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026

So, in consultation with the judiciary, economist Sultan Mehmood, of the New Economic School in Moscow, and collaborators tested whether AI could ease the burden. — Edd Gent, IEEE Spectrum, 12 Aug. 2026

In the Alikhani case, 12 young men were sentenced to death and several others were sentenced to five to 10 years in prison, according to Iranian judiciary and human rights sources. — Somayeh Malekian, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

probably noun derivative of judiciary, adjective, "judicial," going back to Middle English judiciari, borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French judiciaire, borrowed from Latin jūdiciārius "of the law courts," from jūdicium "legal proceedings, court" + -ārius -ary entry 2 — more at judicial

First Known Use

1623, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for judiciary

• accessary
• adversary
• ancillary
• apiary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• bacillary
• beriberi
• bestiary
• breviary
• budgetary

Kids Definition

judiciary

noun

ju·​di·​cia·​ry ju̇-ˈdish-ē-ˌer-ē  -ˈdish-ə-rē 

1

a

: a system of courts of law

b

: the judges of these courts

2

: a branch of government in which judicial power is vested

judiciary adjective

Legal Definition

judiciary

noun

ju·​di·​cia·​ry ju̇-ˈdi-shē-ˌer-ē, -ˈdi-shə-rē 

plural judiciaries

1

a

: a system of courts of law

b

: the judges of these courts

2

: a branch of government in which judicial power is vested compare executive, legislature

judiciary adjective