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verb

adjudicate

/əˈdʒuːdɪkeɪt/  ·  say it: uh·JOO·dih·kayt

to make a formal judgment on a disputed matter

In Law & Justice

In more detail

1. (verb) to make an official decision or judgment about a disputed matter

2. (verb) to act as a judge or umpire in a competition or conflict

Examples

How to use adjudicate

Adjudicate is a formal verb used primarily in legal, administrative, or competitive contexts to describe the act of making an official or authoritative judgment. It carries more formality and procedural weight than the simpler verb 'judge' and typically implies a structured process with proper authority. It is commonly used in law, sports, and institutional settings.

Register: formal

Common phrases

Synonyms

judge · rule · decide · arbitrate · settle

Word family

adjudication (noun) · adjudicator (noun) · adjudicated (past tense) · adjudicating (present participle)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use adjudicate as a noun (e.g., 'the adjudicate') when they should use 'adjudicator' or 'judge' for the person making the decision.

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