adjudicator

noun

Definition of adjudicatornext
1
as in referee
a person who impartially decides or resolves a dispute or controversy since they seemed to be in a hopeless stalemate, both labor and management agreed to use an independent adjudicator to decide the terms of the contract

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2
as in judge
a public official having authority to decide questions of law the appellate court refused to hear the case, thus allowing the judgment of previous adjudicators to stand

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of adjudicator In order to officially break the record, there were rules that had to be followed, said Chloe McCarthy, an official adjudicator for Guinness World Records. — Kristie Keleshian, CBS News, 12 July 2026 Styles was presented with his certificate by Guinness World Records adjudicator Will Munford on stage. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 6 July 2026 Immigration adjudicators may discourage visa holders like Maya from seeking employment after layoffs, thereby limiting their opportunities to stay and work in America. — Stuart Anderson, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 Confirming the fort’s record breaking size required a visit from an official Guinness World Records adjudicator. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 4 June 2026 The competition included 23 players who supplied preliminary video performances; adjudicators selected 12 finalists. — Eric E. Harrison, Arkansas Online, 6 May 2026 The judge prohibited redetention without notice and a hearing before a neutral adjudicator. — Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026 The instructors at the Atomic Ballroom, based in Costa Mesa, led the dance record effort, giving a step-by-step instruction to those who showed up, the Guinness World Record adjudicator counting the crowd. — Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 19 Apr. 2026 Michael Empric, a Guinness World Records adjudicator, said rules require all food used in record attempts to be eaten or donated. — Tassanee Vejpongsa, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adjudicator
  1. referee
  2. judge
  3. umpire
  4. court
Noun
  • Sami interfered in the match and the referee called for the bell.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • With boos and jeers ringing around Expo Idaho at the referees, AC Boise continued to pepper the Portland box with dangerous crosses and shots.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 18 July 2026
Definition of referee
Noun
  • Immediately after the prosecutor finished his closing argument, the judge found Broadwater guilty without leaving the bench to deliberate.
    — ProPublica, ProPublica, 14 July 2026
  • After the judge left the bench, promising a ruling by day’s end, India blew kisses to Banks as he was led away, back into custody.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 14 July 2026
Definition of judge
Noun
  • Look, this isn't about Jen Pawol being a female umpire, so save it.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2026
  • When a second serve of his was called out to go down 4-2 in the fourth — this was pre-electronic line calling, and even the famous challenge system — Ivanišević raged at the umpire and kicked the net in frustration.
    — Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 12 July 2026
Definition of umpire
Noun
  • The arrests mark the latest development in a series of court cases spanning multiple countries.
    — Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 19 July 2026
  • Some in county jails are there for just a few days, but others can stay behind bars for months or even years before their cases are tried in court.
    — Amber Gaudet July 18, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026
Definition of court

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Cite this Entry

“Adjudicator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adjudicator. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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