adjudicate

1 of 2

verb

ad·​ju·​di·​cate ə-ˈjü-di-ˌkāt How to pronounce adjudicate (audio)
adjudicated; adjudicating
Synonyms of adjudicate

transitive verb

: to make an official decision about who is right in (a dispute) : to settle judicially
The school board will adjudicate claims made against teachers.

intransitive verb

: to act as judge
The court can adjudicate on this dispute.
adjudicative
ə-ˈjü-di-ˌkā-tiv How to pronounce adjudicate (audio)
-kə-
adjective
adjudicator
ə-ˈjü-di-ˌkā-tər How to pronounce adjudicate (audio)
noun
adjudicatory
ə-ˈjü-di-kə-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce adjudicate (audio)
adjective

adjudicator

2 of 2

noun

ad·​ju·​di·​ca·​tor ə-ˈjü-də-ˌkā-tər How to pronounce adjudicator (audio)
plural -s
: one that adjudicates

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.

Synonyms of adjudicate

Relevance

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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
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.
Verb
Rather than adjudicating guilt, the filmmakers opted to leave the question of truth open to viewers. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 June 2026 That dispute will play out over weeks, and most companies deploying AI have no real way to adjudicate it. — Robert J. Szczerba, Forbes.com, 15 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 technology can adjudicate on catches and leg before wicket calls but is largely reliant on sensitive microphones positioned at the base of the stumps, rather than a sensor within the ball. — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for adjudicate

Word History

Etymology

Verb

borrowed from Latin adjūdicātus, past participle of adjūdicāre "to adjudge"

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1695, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

1705, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of adjudicate was circa 1695

Rhymes for adjudicate

See All Rhymes for adjudicate

Browse Nearby Words

adjudicataire
adjudicate
adjudicatio
See all Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Adjudicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adjudicate. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

adjudicate

verb
ad·​ju·​di·​cate ə-ˈjüd-i-ˌkāt How to pronounce adjudicate (audio)
adjudicated; adjudicating
: to decide, award, or sentence judicially
adjudicate a claim
adjudication
-ˌjüd-i-ˈkā-shən
noun

Legal Definition

adjudicate

verb
ad·​ju·​di·​cate ə-ˈjü-di-ˌkāt How to pronounce adjudicate (audio)
adjudicated; adjudicating

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

: to come to a judicial decision : act as judge
the court adjudicated upon the case
adjudication
ə-ˌjü-di-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce adjudicate (audio)
noun
adjudicative
ə-ˈjü-di-ˌkā-tiv, -kə-
noun
adjudicator
-ˌkā-tər How to pronounce adjudicate (audio)
noun
Etymology

Verb

Latin adjudicare to award in judgment, from ad to, for + judicare to judge see judge

More from Merriam-Webster on adjudicate

Nglish: Translation of adjudicate for Spanish Speakers

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