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
Examples of judicial in a Sentence
the judicial branch of government
Recent Examples on the Web
In her final opinion as a Supreme Court justice in 2005, Sandra Day O’Connor – a judicial conservative – reflected on the importance of church-state separation to guarantee full religious freedom.
—
Steven K. Green,
The Conversation,
2 July 2026
The authority of a judicial opinion rests not merely on its logic but on the accountability of the judge who signs it.
—
Joseph Andrew,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
In an opinion concurring with the majority ruling, Jackson and Sotomayor slammed Thomas’ reasoning for being inconsistent with his legal scholarship and prior judicial reasoning.
—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
30 June 2026
But the Supreme Court reversed those rulings, saying in a 6-3 decision that immigrants from Syria and Haiti are not entitled to judicial orders postponing the terminations of their temporary deportation protections.
—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for judicial
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Steven K. Green,
The Conversation,
2 July 2026
The authority of a judicial opinion rests not merely on its logic but on the accountability of the judge who signs it.
—
Joseph Andrew,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
In an opinion concurring with the majority ruling, Jackson and Sotomayor slammed Thomas’ reasoning for being inconsistent with his legal scholarship and prior judicial reasoning.
—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
30 June 2026
But the Supreme Court reversed those rulings, saying in a 6-3 decision that immigrants from Syria and Haiti are not entitled to judicial orders postponing the terminations of their temporary deportation protections.
—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for judicial
Cite this Entry
“Judicial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/judicial. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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
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