adjudicate
Upper-Intermediate (B2)
IPA: //əˈdʒuː.dɪ.keɪt//
KK: /ədˈʒudɪˌkeɪt/
intransitive verb
Definition
To make a decision or judgment about a dispute or issue, often in a formal setting.
Example
The committee will adjudicate on the matter next week.
Tense Forms
Past: adjudicated
Past Participle: adjudicated
Conversation
Have you ever had to adjudicate a disagreement between friends?
Not really, but I think it would be tough to stay neutral.
Yeah, I can imagine it’s hard to adjudicate without taking sides.
Definitely! It requires a lot of patience and fairness.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
judge
decide
rule
Antonyms
ignore
disregard
abstain
transitive verb
Definition
To make a formal decision about a legal case or to resolve a disagreement by using a legal process.
Example
The judge will adjudicate the case next week.
Tense Forms
Past: adjudicated
Past Participle: adjudicated
Conversation
Did you hear about the argument between Sarah and Tom?
Yeah, it got pretty heated!
I wonder who will adjudicate their dispute.
Root Explanation
Adjudicate is formed from "ad-" (meaning to) and "judicare" (meaning to judge). The word refers to the act of making a formal judgment or decision about a dispute or issue.
Memory Tip
Think of 'to judge' ('judicare') something formally — that's what adjudicate means.
Visually Confused Words
readjudicate
dijudicate
abjudicate
judicate
judicature
judicative
claudicate