judge

1 of 2

noun

ˈjəj 

: one who makes judgments: such as

a

: a public official authorized to decide questions brought before a court

b

: one appointed to decide in a contest or competition : umpire

c

: one who gives an authoritative opinion

d

: critic

e

often capitalized : a tribal hero exercising leadership among the Hebrews after the death of Joshua

judgeship

ˈjəj-ˌship 

noun

judge

2 of 2

verb

judged; judging

transitive verb

1

: to form an opinion about through careful weighing of evidence and testing of premises

2

: to form an estimate or evaluation of

trying to judge the amount of time required

especially : to form a negative opinion about

shouldn't judge him because of his accent

3

: to hold as an opinion : guess, think

I judge she knew what she was doing

4

: to sit in judgment on : try

judge a case

5

: to determine or pronounce after inquiry and deliberation

They judged him guilty.

6

: govern, rule

—used of a Hebrew tribal leader

intransitive verb

1

: to form an opinion

2

: to decide as a judge

judger noun

Synonyms

Noun

• adjudicator
• arbiter
• arbitrator
• referee
• umpire

Verb

• adjudge
• adjudicate
• arbitrate
• decide
• determine
• referee
• rule (on)
• settle
• umpire

Choose the Right Synonym for judge

infer, deduce, conclude, judge, gather mean to arrive at a mental conclusion.

infer implies arriving at a conclusion by reasoning from evidence; if the evidence is slight, the term comes close to surmise.

from that remark, I inferred that they knew each other

deduce often adds to infer the special implication of drawing a particular inference from a generalization.

denied we could deduce anything important from human mortality

conclude implies arriving at a necessary inference at the end of a chain of reasoning.

concluded that only the accused could be guilty

judge stresses a weighing of the evidence on which a conclusion is based.

judge people by their actions

gather suggests an intuitive forming of a conclusion from implications.

gathered their desire to be alone without a word

Examples of judge in a Sentence

Noun

She's one of the strictest judges in the state.

He served as a judge at the baking contest.

“I don't think we should trust her.” “Let me be the judge of that.”

She is a good judge of character.

Verb

You should not judge people by their appearance.

He was trying to judge the strength of his opponent.

We should do whatever we judge to be the right thing.

Who are you to judge me?

He feels that they have judged him unfairly.

Don't judge her too severely.

The jury will be asked to judge the defendant's guilt.

If you are accused of a crime you have the right to be judged by a jury of your peers.

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Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The judges suggested Anthony Anderson, David Arquette and the Wayans Brothers as options for Rubber Ducky. —Dana Rose Falcone, Peoplemag, 28 Sep. 2023

Citing issues with Reyes’ credibility, the district attorney’s office asked a judge to vacate the assault conviction against Vargas and grant him release after 12 years in prison on the gun possession charge. —James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2023

Nor is the judge bothered by the more routine vitriol directed her way. —Spencer S. Hsu, Washington Post, 27 Sep. 2023

The judge didn’t reject the existence of the harms, or even that they were caused by oil spills. —IEEE Spectrum, 27 Sep. 2023

The suspect told the judge on Wednesday that he’s been reviewing the state’s evidence against him for about two or three hours a day. —Greg Cergol, NBC News, 27 Sep. 2023

The manipulative narcissistic individuals who are the purveyors of the children’s hurt are quite literally the judge and the jury of infliction and so there is no avenue for justice available to them. —Hazlitt, 27 Sep. 2023

After his own cha cha with Koko Iwasaki was bracketed in the bottom three, fans voted, the judges weighed in and Walsh was walking. —Lars Brandle, Billboard, 27 Sep. 2023

The court decision must be made no later than January 12, 2024, due to the retirements of judges hearing the case. —Hadas Gold, CNN, 27 Sep. 2023

Verb

The married couple was spotted out and about in New York City on Tuesday evening, seemingly fresh off a dinner date at upscale vegetarian eatery Eleven Madison Park, judging from the bags bearing the restaurant's logo that were carried by Long, 45. —Jen Juneau, Peoplemag, 13 Sep. 2023

English National Opera’s first installment of Wagner’s four-part epic of gods and humans, lust and power, was judged a bit too scrappy and bare to transfer to the grand Met. —Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 12 Sep. 2023

Judge, Mike Soler of Northfield said ribs are judged on taste, tenderness and presentation. —Gina Grillo, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2023

That fear of being judged often keeps women silent. —Courtney Biggs, Glamour, 11 Sep. 2023

Americans are worried about crime ahead of the 2024 elections, but few have an accurate sense of the problem, according to a Times review of crime data and a recent Gallup poll that asked adults to judge whether 16 major cities are safe places to live or visit. —Noah Bierman, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2023

After Armistice Day, Miller was among those sent to Germany to interrogate Nazis and judge whether they should be released from the prisoner camps or should stay for more analysis. —Cameron Knight, The Enquirer, 30 Aug. 2023

What drove Apple to endorse this bill is hard to judge. —IEEE Spectrum, 30 Aug. 2023

At least judging by social media, picket-line signs and dueling press statements. —Rebecca Keegan, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Aug. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English juge, from Anglo-French, from Latin judex — see judge entry 2

Verb

Middle English juggen, from Anglo-French juger, from Latin judicare, from judic-, judex judge, from jus right, law + dicere to decide, say — more at just, diction

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing judge

• circuit judge
• as/so far as one can see/tell/judge
• back judge
• field judge
• (as) sober as a judge
• judge advocate
• judge advocate general
• line judge

• circuit judge
• as/so far as one can see/tell/judge
• back judge
• field judge
• (as) sober as a judge
• judge advocate
• judge advocate general
• line judge

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Kids Definition

judge

1 of 2 verb

ˈjəj 

judged; judging

1

: to form an opinion after careful consideration

2

: to decide as a judge : try

3

: to reach a conclusion about something : think

judge

2 of 2 noun

1

: a public official having authority to decide questions brought before a court

2

: a person appointed to decide in a contest or competition : umpire

3

: a person who is qualified to give an opinion : critic

judgeship

-ˌship 

noun

Etymology

Verb

Middle English juggen "to judge," from early French juger (same meaning), from Latin judicare "to judge," from judic-, judex "judge," from jus "right, law," and dicere "to say" — related to hoosegow, jury, just, prejudice

Legal Definition

judge

1 of 2 verb

ˈjəj 

judged; judging

transitive verb

1

: to hear and decide (as a litigated question) in a court of justice

judge a case

2

: to pronounce after inquiry and deliberation

he was judged incompetent

intransitive verb

: to make a determination : decide

judge between two accounts

judge

2 of 2 noun

: a public official vested with the authority to hear, determine, and preside over legal matters brought in court

also : one (as a justice of the peace) who performs one or more functions of such an official

Etymology

Verb

Old French jugier, from Latin judicare, from judic-, judex judge, from jus right, law + dicere to decide, say