adjudicate

verb ad·ju·di·cate \ ə-ˈjü-di-ˌkāt \

Definition of adjudicate

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.

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adjudicative

play \-ˌkā-tiv, -kə-\ adjective

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adjudicator

play \-ˌkā-tər\ noun

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adjudicatory

play \-ˈjü-di-kə-ˌtȯr-ē\ adjective

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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 of adjudicate from the Web

The device was confiscated and she was given an Oct. 10 adjudicating hearing date at City Hall, police said.

— jennifer johnson, chicagotribune.com, "Park Ridge police: Man struck in head with bottle; woman accused of breaking car window," 6 Sep. 2017
Applications that have already been submitted that expire beyond March 5, will also be adjudicated on a case-by-case basis, according to DHS officials.

— maya rhodan, PEOPLE.com, "Attorney General Jeff Sessions Says the Trump Administration Is Rescinding DACA Program," 5 Sep. 2017
In fact, they should be reported to the police, instead of being adjudicated by college administrators with warped priorities.

— christine flowers, Alaska Dispatch News, "Rush to judgment in campus rape cases serves injustice," 14 Aug. 2017
Grassley's bill established the 20-person Office of Compliance to adjudicate disputes and handle harassment complaints.

— Alaska Dispatch News, "How Congress plays by different rules on sexual harassment and misconduct," 28 Oct. 2017
Marvin Roberts, of Tioga, was adjudicated delinquent on one count of robbery and inflicting a threat of bodily injury in a case filed Jan. 5, the records said.

— chris palmer, Philly.com, "Accused Spring Garden killer was on probation after robbery," 11 Sep. 2017
The court is influential, in part because of its role in adjudicating many of the orders and laws put forth by the administration.

— sadie gurman, The Seattle Times, "Trump nominates White House lawyer to important court seat," 7 Sep. 2017
During public comment, several residents addressed the board, voicing concern about the Seventh Ward effectively being left unrepresented and asking whether anything could be done to remove Ahr before his case is adjudicated.

— erin mccarthy, Philly.com, "Philip Ahr resigns as Radnor Township board president amid child porn allegations," 23 Oct. 2017
An arrest warrant has been issued for Jones, who was adjudicated delinquent for false imprisonment in 2014, according to the complaint and state court records.

— jesse garza, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Man fatally shot told assailant, 'I love you'," 28 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'adjudicate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Adjudicate is one of several terms that give testimony to the influence of jus, the Latin word for "law," on our legal language. Adjudicate is from the Latin verb adjudicare, from judicare, meaning "to judge," which, in turn, traces to the Latin noun judex, meaning "judge." English has other judex words, such as judgment, judicial, judiciary, and prejudice. If we admit further evidence, we discover that the root of judex is jus, the word for "law." What's the verdict? Latin law words frequently preside in English-speaking courtrooms. In addition to the judex words, jury, justice, injury, and perjury are all ultimately from Latin jus.

Origin and Etymology of adjudicate

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1695

in the meaning defined at transitive sense

See Words from the same year

adjudicate Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Near Antonyms

equivocate, hedge, pussyfoot, skirt;

size up;

mediate, moderate, negotiate;

prosecute, try;

find (for or against);

conclude, resolve;

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

Law Dictionary

adjudicate

verb ad·ju·di·cate \ ə-ˈjü-di-ˌkāt \

legal Definition of adjudicate

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