# judgment

/ˈdʒədʒmənt/ (US) · /dʒˈʌdʒmənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/judgment
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. ability to decide wisely

noun · CEFR B2

the ability to make sensible decisions or to tell the difference between right and wrong.

For teachers: the cognitive faculty or capacity for making sensible decisions and forming objective conclusions.

- You should trust your own judgment when choosing which job offer to accept.
- The manager was praised for her sound judgment during the crisis, as she remained calm and made logical choices under pressure.

### 2. an opinion

noun · CEFR B2

an opinion that you form after thinking carefully about something.

For teachers: a subjective opinion or evaluation formed after a period of consideration.

- In my judgment, the plan is too expensive and will not work.
- The critic reserved judgment on the new novel until he had finished the final chapter, wanting to ensure his review was fair.

### 3. legal decision

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

an official decision made by a judge or a court of law.

For teachers: a formal and authoritative decision made by a court of law or a judicial officer.

- The court will give its final judgment on the case next Tuesday.
- The Supreme Court issued a landmark judgment that fundamentally altered how privacy laws are applied to digital communications.

### 4. criticism

noun · CEFR B2

the act of criticizing someone or saying they are wrong.

For teachers: the act of passing negative moral or social criticism on a person's character or actions.

- She felt the judgment of the other parents when her child started crying.
- Living in a small town often means facing the constant judgment of neighbours who monitor every aspect of your private life.

## Examples

- You should use your own judgment to decide.
- The manager showed excellent judgment by hiring the most experienced candidate despite the higher salary requirement.
- The court's final judgment established a significant legal precedent that will likely influence how similar liability cases are handled for the next decade.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.