judicial

adjective

ju·​di·​cial jü-ˈdi-shəl How to pronounce judicial (audio)
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 adverb

Examples of judicial in a Sentence

the judicial branch of government
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In 2013, under the Obama Administration, Senate Democrats used it to eliminate the filibuster on executive appointments and judicial nominations. Connor Greene, Time, 12 Sep. 2025 Trump has criticized the Brazilian judicial system and threatened tariffs on the country for its case against Bolsonaro. Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 12 Sep. 2025 The motion was withdrawn after a significant public and judicial backlash, an episode that solidified her image as a guardian of institutional integrity against an overreaching executive. Sugam Pokharel, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025 The state replaced it with a framework that relies on judicial assessments and pretrial monitoring to decide whether defendants should be detained or released. Christine Scott-Hayward, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for judicial

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin judicialis, from judicium judgment, from judex — see judge entry 2

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of judicial was in the 14th century

Cite this Entry

“Judicial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/judicial. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

judicial

adjective
ju·​di·​cial ju̇-ˈdish-əl How to pronounce judicial (audio)
1
: of or relating to courts or judges
2
: ordered or enforced by a court
a judicial decision
judicially adverb

Legal Definition

judicial

adjective
ju·​di·​cial jü-ˈdi-shəl How to pronounce judicial (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on judicial

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