judicial
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.related to the legal system, the work of judges, or the administration of justice.
adj.pertaining to the judiciary, the administration of justice, or the functions of a judge.
Simple“The country's judicial system is independent from the political leaders.”
In context“The supreme court exercised its power of judicial review to determine whether the new legislation was consistent with constitutional principles.”
UsageOften used in fixed phrases like 'judicial system', 'judicial review', or 'judicial branch'.
SynonymslegaljuridicalAntonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
adj.showing very careful thought or judgment, often when criticizing something.
adj.characterised by or expressing careful judgment or critical evaluation.
Simple“The critic gave a judicial assessment of the new play.”
In context“A judicial mind is required to weigh the conflicting evidence presented in such a complex historical debate.”
Teacher's tipIn modern English, 'judicious' is more common for 'wise/sensible', while 'judicial' usually stays strictly within legal contexts.
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
n.the part of a government that includes the courts and judges.
n.the branch of government responsible for maintaining the courts of law and the administration of justice.
Simple“The power of the judicial is balanced by the power of the president.”
In context“The independence of the judicial is a cornerstone of democratic governance, ensuring that the law is applied without political interference.”
UsageUsually functions as a collective noun; 'the judiciary' is more frequent in general-service English.
Synonyms
Usage judicial review
“While the cases were initially dismissed by a state court judge, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court revived the suits last fall.”
“Kuntz said Florida judicial ethics rules had not required him to step aside from the case, and he was only contacted by the White House after he had given his legal opinion.”
Borrowed from Latin iūdiciālis.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.