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

Biden appeared to allude to that possibility in his letter informing the Senate about his veto, writing that the bill would add judgeships to states where some existing judicial vacancies have been held open. —Andy Biggs, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024

Biden and Senate Democrats placed particular focus on adding women, minorities and public defenders to the judicial rank. —Kevin Freking The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 21 Dec. 2024

After consulting with other judges and court staff, Moore lodged a judicial conduct complaint against Judge Newman under the Judicial Conduct and Disability Act. —Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 21 Dec. 2024

Schumer axed four judicial nominees in exchange for a path to passage for over a dozen judges through the end of the year. —Stephen Neukam, Axios, 20 Dec. 2024

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

Phrases Containing judicial

• judicial review
• quasi-judicial

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