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.
Haitian judicial authorities have said that 25 or 26 people were killed, based on visits to two morgues. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026 Those companies have argued the NLRB’s structure violates the Constitution’s separation of powers because the agency combines investigative, prosecutorial and judicial power. Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026 Justice Ojo, the attorney for both women, filed a judicial summons Thursday. Devon Henderson, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026 Family members, longtime friends, former colleagues and even litigants discuss the woman behind the famous judicial robe. Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 2 Sep. 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 4 Sep. 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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