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

Justice and accountability under the law are key tenets of the American judicial system. — Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026

Osan led the students through the basics, such as how the Constitution’s first 10 amendments are also known as the Bill of Rights, the three branches of government and what her job as a judicial magistrate involves. — Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026

The Clippers’ decision to stand down as the DOJ launches an investigation is logical because any litigation brought by the team would open the door to judicial scrutiny of transactions that now appear to be of interest to federal investigators. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 Sep. 2026

McConnell entered the Senate chamber in a wheelchair and cast a vote on a judicial nomination. — Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 14 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French judicial, judiciel, borrowed from Latin jūdiciālis, from jūdicium "legal proceedings, court, verdict, judgment" (from jūdic-, jūdex judge entry 1 + -ium, suffix of function or state) + -ālis -al entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing judicial

• judicial branch
• judicial review
• quasi-judicial

Rhymes for judicial

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

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