Word
verdict
Phoneticsver·dict, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈvɝdɪkt/
UK/vˈɜːdɪkt/
Definitions
01legal decision
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Law
n. the official decision made by a jury at the end of a trial to say if someone is guilty or not.
n. the formal finding of fact made by a jury on matters or questions submitted to them during a trial.
日本語:評決※
Español:fallo
“The jury took three days to reach a verdict of not guilty.”
“After deliberating for nearly forty-eight hours, the jury returned a unanimous verdict, bringing the high-profile murder trial to a dramatic conclusion.”
Usage
Commonly used with the verbs 'reach', 'return', or 'deliver'.
02opinion or judgement
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. your final opinion or decision about something after you have tried it or thought about it.
n. a subjective but definitive judgement or opinion expressed after a period of consideration or testing.
Español:fallo
“What is your verdict on the new restaurant in town?”
“The critics' final verdict on the film was surprisingly harsh, despite the director's previous successes in the same genre.”
Teaching tip
While this sense is formal, it is frequently used in a slightly playful or dramatic way in everyday conversation when asking for an opinion.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “verdict” in context.
Verb
01. await the verdict
“The defendant sat nervously in the dock while he awaited the verdict.”
verb + noun
02. deliver the verdict
“Silence fell across the courtroom as the foreman prepared to deliver the verdict.”
verb + noun
03. overturn the verdict
“The appeals court decided to overturn the verdict due to a lack of evidence.”
verb + noun
04. reach a verdict
“After three days of deliberation, the jury finally reached a verdict.”
verb + noun
Adjective
05. favorable verdict
“The company's stock price soared following the favorable verdict in the patent case.”
adj + noun
06. unanimous verdict
“The judge was pleased that the jury was able to return a unanimous verdict.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. verdict on the performance
“The critics' verdict on the performance was overwhelmingly positive.”
noun + prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“The jury returned a 10-2 majority guilty verdict.” “During the trial her defence argued the baby may have already been dead before the burn injuries, but a jury took just over an hour to return the guilty verdict.” Etymology
From Middle English verdit, from Anglo-Norman verdit (> Medieval Latin veredictum), from veir (“true”) + dit (“saying”); possibly a calque of a Germanic term such as Old English sōþword, sōþsprǣċ, sōþspell, sōþsagu, or sōþcwide, all meaning "true story, statement of truth, account, history". Doublet of veredictum.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/verdict
※ 機械で選んだ訳語です。ネイティブスピーカーによる確認はまだです。
「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0