judgment

[ juhj-muhnt ]

noun

1. an act or instance of judging.

   Synonyms: determination

2. the ability to judge, make a decision, or form an opinion objectively, authoritatively, and wisely, especially in matters affecting action; good sense; discretion:

   a man of sound judgment.

   Synonyms: prudence, intelligence, wisdom, sagacity, perspicacity, discernment, discrimination

3. the demonstration or exercise of such ability or capacity:

   The major was decorated for the judgment he showed under fire.

4. the forming of an opinion, estimate, notion, or conclusion, as from circumstances presented to the mind:

   Our judgment as to the cause of his failure must rest on the evidence.

5. the opinion formed:

   He regretted his hasty judgment.

6. Law.
   1. a judicial decision given by a judge or court.
   2. the obligation, especially a debt, arising from a judicial decision.
   3. the certificate embodying such a decision and issued against the obligor, especially a debtor.
7. a misfortune regarded as inflicted by divine sentence, as for sin.
8. Judgment. Theology. Last Judgment ( def ).

Judgment

¹

/ ˈdʒʌdʒmənt /

noun

1. the estimate by God of the ultimate worthiness or unworthiness of the individual (the Particular Judgment ) or of all mankind (the General Judgment or Last Judgment )
2. God's subsequent decision determining the final destinies of all individuals

judgment

²

/ ˈdʒʌdʒmənt /

noun

1. the faculty of being able to make critical distinctions and achieve a balanced viewpoint; discernment
2. 1. the decision or verdict pronounced by a court of law
   2. an obligation arising as a result of such a decision or verdict, such as a debt
   3. the document recording such a decision or verdict
   4. ( as modifier )

      a judgment debtor

3. the formal decision of one or more judges at a contest or competition
4. a particular decision or opinion formed in a case in dispute or doubt
5. an estimation

   a good judgment of distance

6. criticism or censure
7. logic
   1. the act of establishing a relation between two or more terms, esp as an affirmation or denial
   2. the expression of such a relation
8. against one's better judgment
   contrary to a more appropriate or preferred course of action
9. sit in judgment
   1. to preside as judge
   2. to assume the position of critic
10. in someone's judgment
    in someone's opinion

Other Words From

• inter·judgment noun
• re·judgment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of judgment¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English jug(g)ement, from Old French jugement, from juge- (stem of jugier “to judge”; judge ) + -ment -ment

Idioms and Phrases

see against one's better judgment ; snap judgment .

Example Sentences

There’s also a toddler in this ramshackle flat, so be sure to table your judgment about youth raising children from multiple partners.

From Los Angeles Times

They concluded her behaviour indicated "a serious lapse in professional judgment" and suspended her from the nursing register for a year, preventing her working in healthcare.

From BBC

Trump and some other legal minds in his orbit have suggested Trump should go after those prosecutors who have targeted him and his companies — including Special Counsel Jack Smith, who has pursued criminal cases against Trump for his incitement of the Jan. 6 insurrection and his hoarding of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort; and Letitia “Tish” James, the New York attorney general who won a massive fraud judgment against Trump for inflating his net worth to win preferable insurance and loan terms.

From Los Angeles Times

The hearing is expected to continue tomorrow but Lord Ericht is not expected to issue his judgment for some weeks or months.

From BBC

The snap judgment among legal experts was that a federal judge’s dismissal on Nov. 7 of a copyright infringement lawsuit against OpenAI, the leader in advanced chatbots, will short-circuit an ever-growing effort by artists and writers to keep AI firms from stealing their content.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• analysis
• appraisal
• assessment
• award
• belief
• conclusion
• conviction
• decree
• determination
• evaluation
• finding
• idea
• inquiry
• observation
• opinion
• order
• resolution
• result
• review
• ruling