English Reference

Word

adjudication

Phoneticsad·ju·di·ca·tion

US/əˌdʒudəˈkeɪʃən/

UK/ɐdʒˌuːdɪkˈeɪʃən/

Definition

n. the process of making a formal decision about a legal or official dispute. It is like a judge deciding who is right in a fight.

n. the formal process of settling a dispute or reaching a decision, typically by a judge or an official body. Often used in legal contexts to describe the resolution of a case.

Examples

“The court ordered an adjudication of the property dispute.”

“After months of negotiation, the union requested an independent adjudication to resolve the pay dispute.”

“The final adjudication of the case was delayed due to the complexity of the evidence and the need for expert testimony regarding the environmental impact of the project.”

Examples

simple

“The court ordered an adjudication of the property dispute.”

contextual

“After months of negotiation, the union requested an independent adjudication to resolve the pay dispute.”

complex

“The final adjudication of the case was delayed due to the complexity of the evidence and the need for expert testimony regarding the environmental impact of the project.”

Real-World Examples

“As political polarization increases , and as the Supreme Court removes itself from many rights disputes , state constitutions will likely be more important than ever in rights adjudication.”
The Conversation · 11 Aug 2026

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin adiudicatio, adiudicationem. By surface analysis, adjudicate + -tion.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Domain

Law

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/adjudication

English Reference