adjudicate

verb

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

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 adjective
adjudicator noun
adjudicatory adjective

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

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 Gobin is disputing the claims, and the action has yet to be adjudicated. Justin Jouvenal, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024 In fact, the North Carolina Supreme Court is still adjudicating a three decade-old lawsuit, referred to as the Leandro case, alleging that the state is underfunding certain school districts. Patrick Gleason, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 Defendants aged 17 and under in Missouri are typically adjudicated through the juvenile system, which is far more private than the system for adults, according to The Associated Press. Alex Sundby, CBS News, 20 Feb. 2024 Defendants age 17 and under in Missouri are typically adjudicated through the juvenile system, which is far more private than the system for adults. Nick Ingram, arkansasonline.com, 17 Feb. 2024 The length of the programs for services recommended for Baby K ranges from five to seven months, if adjudicated in juvenile court. Jasmine Hilton, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 While those issues have been heavily litigated for decades, the justices will go into Thursday’s argument with very little experience adjudicating this section of the Constitution. Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Feb. 2024 Colorado’s judicial system should be focused on adjudicating cases, not preapproving presidential candidates. WSJ, 9 Jan. 2024 Fairbanks said that workers get about one-third of the compensation and that PAGA cases take twice as long compared with cases adjudicated by state agencies. Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'adjudicate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

circa 1695, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of adjudicate was circa 1695

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Dictionary Entries Near adjudicate

Cite this Entry

“Adjudicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adjudicate. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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 noun
adjudicative
ə-ˈjü-di-ˌkā-tiv, -kə-
noun
adjudicator noun
Etymology

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

More from Merriam-Webster on adjudicate

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