ad·ju·di·cate
ə-ˈjü-di-ˌkāt 
adjudicated; adjudicating
: to make an official decision about who is right in (a dispute) : to settle judicially
The school board will adjudicate claims made against teachers.
: to act as judge
The court can adjudicate on this dispute.
Did you know?
Adjudicate, which is usually used to mean “to make an official decision about who is right in a dispute,” is one of several terms that give testimony to the influence of jus, the Latin word for “law,” on our legal language. Others include judgment, judicial, prejudice, jury, justice, injury, and perjury. What’s the verdict? Latin “law” words frequently preside in English-speaking courtrooms.
Examples of adjudicate in a Sentence
Verb
The board will adjudicate claims made against teachers.
The case was adjudicated in the state courts.
The board will adjudicate when claims are made against teachers.
Recent Examples on the Web
Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 12 June 2026
Congress had never set up a huge committees like this to attempt to adjudicate such huge issues.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026
In response to questions about staffing, Mattingly said any immigration judge can be assigned to adjudicate cases in any court in the nation, as needed.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 10 June 2026
That will just leave a small number of irregular ballots left to be adjudicated.
—John Ramos, CBS News, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for adjudicate
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Verb
Once his South Bay case is adjudicated, authorities said he will then be brought back to Orange County to face charges for a 2018 fatal shooting in Westminster.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 12 June 2026
Congress had never set up a huge committees like this to attempt to adjudicate such huge issues.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026
In response to questions about staffing, Mattingly said any immigration judge can be assigned to adjudicate cases in any court in the nation, as needed.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 10 June 2026
That will just leave a small number of irregular ballots left to be adjudicated.
—John Ramos, CBS News, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for adjudicate
Cite this Entry
“Adjudicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adjudicate. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
adjudicate
verb
ad·ju·di·cate
ə-ˈjüd-i-ˌkāt
adjudicated; adjudicating
: to decide, award, or sentence judicially
adjudicate a claim
adjudication
noun
-ˌjüd-i-ˈkā-shən
Legal Definition
adjudicate
verb
ad·ju·di·cate
ə-ˈjü-di-ˌkāt
adjudicated; adjudicating
1
: to settle either finally or temporarily (the rights and duties of the parties to a judicial or quasi-judicial proceeding) on the merits of the issues raised
2
: to pass judgment on as a judge : settle judicially
3
: to pronounce judicially to be
was adjudicated a bankrupt
was adjudicated the child's father
4
: to convey by judicial sale
: to come to a judicial decision : act as judge
the court adjudicated upon the case
adjudicative
noun
ə-ˈjü-di-ˌkā-tiv, -kə-
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