of or relating to the administration of justice of or relating to judgment in a court of law or to a judge exercising this function allowed or enforced by a court of law: a decree of judicial separation having qualities appropriate to a judge giving or seeking judgment, esp determining or seeking determination of a contested issue
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
ju•di•cial /dʒuˈdɪʃəl/USA pronunciation
adj. [before a noun]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- relating to judgment in courts of justice or to the administration of justice;
relating to courts of law or to judges;
judiciary:judicial proceedings. - characteristic of a judge or the judiciary:judicial solemnity.
ju•di•cial
( jo̅o̅ dish′əl),USA pronunciation adj.
ju•di′cial•ly, adv.
ju•di′cial•ness, n.
- pertaining to judgment in courts of justice or to the administration of justice:judicial proceedings; the judicial system.
- pertaining to courts of law or to judges;
judiciary:judicial functions. - of or pertaining to a judge;
proper to the character of a judge;
judgelike:judicial gravity. - inclined to make or give judgments;
critical;
discriminating:a judicial mind. - decreed, sanctioned, or enforced by a court:a judicial decision.
- giving or seeking judgment, as in a dispute or contest;
determinative:a judicial duel over lands. - inflicted by God as a judgment or punishment.
- Latin jūdiciālis of the law courts, equivalent. to jūdici(um) judgment (see judge, -ium) + -ālis -al1
- Middle English 1350–1400
ju•di′cial•ness, n.
- 1, 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged juridical.
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged forensic.
- 4.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See judicious.
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