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

Judges in Shenzhen processed 50% more cases last year, a court said, partly with the help of an AI tool assisting judicial processes. —Chan Ho-Him, Fortune, 6 May 2026

Karas said the note qualifies as a judicial document subject to a strong presumption of public access. —Greg Wehner , Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026

One of the lawyers representing those harmed in the disaster expressed optimism in the judicial process. —Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 5 May 2026

Along with immigration court judges, members of the Board of Immigration appeals — the appellate component of the immigration courts — are also part of the executive — rather than the judicial — branch of the federal government. —Sean Emery, Oc Register, 4 May 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
• official
• simplicial
• surficial
• artificial
• beneficial
• cicatricial
• interstitial
• nonjudicial
• nonofficial
• prejudicial
• sacrificial

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