adjudicate

verb

ad·​ju·​di·​cate ə-ˈjü-di-ˌkāt 

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.

adjudicative

ə-ˈjü-di-ˌkā-tiv 

-kə-

adjective

adjudicator

ə-ˈjü-di-ˌkā-tər 

noun

adjudicatory

ə-ˈjü-di-kə-ˌtȯr-ē 

adjective

Did you know?

Adjudicate, which is usually used to mean “to make an official decision about who is right in a dispute,” is one of several terms that give testimony to the influence of jus, the Latin word for “law,” on our legal language. Others include judgment, judicial, prejudice, jury, justice, injury, and perjury. What’s the verdict? Latin “law” words frequently preside in English-speaking courtrooms.

Synonyms of adjudicate

• decide
• settle
• determine
• arbitrate
• judge
• adjudge

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 on the Web

In cases where the visa holder has an active asylum application, the claim will have to be adjudicated and denied before removal proceedings can move forward. — Shannon K. Kingston, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026

Still, asylum seekers were generally allowed to remain in the country while their claims were adjudicated and, after meeting eligibility requirements, could obtain authorization to work. — María Luisa Paúl, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026

And the officer’s actions, right or wrong, will be adjudicated. — Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 24 Aug. 2026

The 2017 sketch sees Matt Damon claiming to be the father of Kimmel’s child with wife Molly McNearney, and Povich was supposed to adjudicate the dispute. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

circa 1695, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for adjudicate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate
• ameliorate

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Kids Definition

adjudicate

verb

ad·​ju·​di·​cate ə-ˈjüd-i-ˌkāt 

adjudicated; adjudicating

: to decide, award, or sentence judicially

adjudicate a claim

adjudication

-ˌjüd-i-ˈkā-shən

noun

Legal Definition

adjudicate

verb

ad·​ju·​di·​cate ə-ˈjü-di-ˌkāt 

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

was adjudicated a bankrupt

was adjudicated the child's father

4

: to convey by judicial sale

intransitive verb

: to come to a judicial decision : act as judge

the court adjudicated upon the case

adjudication

ə-ˌjü-di-ˈkā-shən 

noun

adjudicative

ə-ˈjü-di-ˌkā-tiv, -kə-

noun

adjudicator

-ˌkā-tər 

noun

Etymology

Latin adjudicare to award in judgment, from ad to, for + judicare to judge see judge