Subscriber login


Forgot your password?

Library card login

Other

judgement

Pronunciation: /ˈdʒʌdʒm(ə)nt/

(also judgment)
Translate judgement | into French | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of judgement

noun

  • 1 [mass noun] the ability to make considered decisions or come to sensible conclusions:an error of judgement that is not, in my judgement, the end of the matter
  • [count noun] an opinion or conclusion:they make subjective judgements about children’s skills
  • [count noun] a decision of a law court or judge:county court judgements against individuals in debt
  • 2a misfortune or calamity viewed as a divine punishment:the events of last week are a judgement on us for our sinful ways

Phrases

against one's better judgement

contrary to what one feels to be wise or sensible: he persuaded me against my better judgement to join him

pass judgement

(of a law court or judge) give a decision concerning a defendant or legal matter:he passed judgement on the accused
criticize or condemn someone from a position of assumed moral superiority:we’re here to help, not to pass judgement

reserve judgement

delay the process of judging or giving one’s opinion: she said she would reserve judgement until next week

sit in judgement

assume the right to judge someone, especially in a critical manner: this total stranger was actually daring to sit in judgement

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French jugement, from juger 'to judge'

In British English the normal spelling in general contexts is judgement. However, the spelling judgment is conventional in legal contexts, and in North American English.

judgement in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of judgement in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

  |  Cite

Word of the day

kempt

/ kɛm(p)t /
adjective
maintained in a neat and clean condition …