# Judiciary

/dʒuˈdɪʃiˌɛɹi/ (US) · /dʒuːdˈɪʃəɹi/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. the body of judges

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

all the judges of a country or region when thought of as a single group.

For teachers: the collective body of judges and justices within a jurisdiction. Usually takes a singular verb.

- The independence of the judiciary is a very important part of a fair society.
- A robust and independent judiciary serves as a critical check on the powers of both the executive and legislative branches.

Usage: Usually preceded by the definite article 'the'.

### 2. the court system

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the system of courts of law in a country.

For teachers: the judicial branch of government, including the administrative and clerical infrastructure of the courts.

- The government is planning to spend more money on the judiciary to speed up trials.
- Reformers argue that the judiciary requires significant technological investment to handle the increasing volume of digital evidence in modern litigation.

### 3. relating to judges

adjective · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

relating to judges or the court system.

For teachers: pertaining to the administration of justice or the function of a judge.

- He has many years of judiciary experience in the high court.
- The committee reviewed the candidate's judiciary record to ensure there were no conflicts of interest before the appointment.

Usage: Less common than the synonym 'judicial' in modern usage.

## Examples

- The judiciary must remain independent from the president.
- A strong and impartial judiciary is essential for protecting the rights of citizens against unfair government actions.
- The constitutional separation of powers ensures that the judiciary can review legislative acts without fear of political retaliation from the executive branch.

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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.