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

Examples of judicial in a Sentence

the judicial branch of government
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.
My brain is a rat’s nest of judicial decisions, fun facts about small mammals, and lots and lots of astronomy stuff. — Sam MacDonald, Scientific American, 28 Oct. 2026 Hellerstein, who was appointed to the federal bench by President Bill Clinton in 1998, presided over numerous high-profile cases during his lengthy judicial career. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026 If approved, all probate judge elections would become nonpartisan, meaning candidates would appear on the ballot without a political party next to their name, something that is already in effect for most judicial roles in the state. — Kaley Fedko, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026 Key witness testimonies changed over time, the court excluded significant exculpatory evidence and judicial rulings skewed the jury’s view of the evidence against Masterson, his lawyers alleged at the time. — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for judicial

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of judicial was in the 14th century

Cite this Entry

“Judicial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/judicial. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

judicial

adjective
1
: of or relating to courts or judges
2
: ordered or enforced by a court
a judicial decision

Legal Definition

judicial

adjective
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

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