adjudicate
uh-JOO-duh-kayt
/əˈdʒuːdɪkeɪt/
To make a formal judgment or decision about a disputed matter or problem.
Implies a formal, often legal or quasi-legal process where an authority figure reviews evidence and hands down a binding ruling.
The story behind the word. In ancient Rome, when a legal dispute arose, it was referred to a iudex (judge). The process of adjudicatio was the formal assignment of property or rights to one of the litigants. It entered English in the 18th century, retaining its sense of a formal, authoritative ruling that puts an end to an argument.
Word relationships
- judge: 'Judge' is a general term, whereas 'adjudicate' specifically emphasizes a formal, structured process of hearing evidence.
- determine: 'Determine' can refer to finding out facts or making a personal decision, while 'adjudicate' always involves settling a dispute between parties.
- equivocate: 'Equivocate' means to avoid making a clear statement, whereas 'adjudicate' means to make a definitive, binding judgment.
Commonly confused with
- arbitrate: 'Adjudicate' is typically done by a judge or official body following strict legal rules, while 'arbitrate' involves a neutral third party chosen by the disputants to reach a compromise.
Word family
- adjudication (noun): The legal process of resolving a dispute or deciding a case.
- adjudicator (noun): A person who adjudicates; a judge.
Collocations
- adjudicate a dispute
- authority to adjudicate
- adjudicate claims
Example sentences
- "The committee was asked to adjudicate on the dispute between the two scientists regarding who first discovered the gene sequence." A legal dispute over intellectual property rights.
- "It is the right of the League of Nations to adjudicate upon these disputes." A historical reference to international arbitration.
Memory hook
Think of a judge sitting on a 'jury' bench, ready to 'ad-JUD-icate' the case with a loud slam of the gavel. Judge + Dictate = Adjudicate.
When not to use
Do not use for casual, informal choices, like deciding what to eat for dinner.
Fun facts
- In international sports, officials who resolve complex scoring disputes or rule violations are often formally called adjudicators rather than simply referees.
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