judgment

The act of judging.

Noun

  1. The act of judging.
    • The key to the situation was judgment of the role the railways could play in modern times. - 1962 December, “Dr. Beeching previews the plan for British Railways”, in Modern Railways, page 376:

    Synonyms: adjudication

  2. The power or faculty of performing such operations; especially, when unqualified, the faculty of judging or deciding rightly, justly, or wisely.
    • a man of judgment / a man of good judgment
    • a politician without judgment
    • Hermia. I would my father look'd but with my eyes. Theseus. Rather your eyes must with his judgment look. - c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “A Midsommer Nights Dreame”, in Mr. William Shakespeares...

    Synonyms: discernment sense

  3. The conclusion or result of judging; an opinion; a decision.
    • She in my judgment was as fair as you. - c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac...
    • Not from the stars do I my judgment pluck; And yet methinks I have astronomy […] - 1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 14”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold...

    Synonyms: estimate thinking verdict award censure choice conclusion decision deduction determination ergotism illation inference judgement/judgment mind opinion result sight take view

  4. The act of determining, as in courts of law, what is conformable to law and justice; also, the determination, decision, or sentence of a court, or of a judge.
    • In judgments between the Rich and the Poor: it is not to be considered what the poor man needs, but what is his own - 1651, Jer[emy] Taylor, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Francis...
    • Most heartily I do beseech the court To give the judgment. - c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio),...

    Synonyms: attaintment condemnation conviction judgement proscription

  5. The final award; the last sentence.

Origin

From Middle English juggement, borrowed from Old French jugement, from Late Latin iūdicāmentum, from Latin iūdicō. Partially displaced doom. By surface analysis, judge + -ment.

Forms

judgments judgement iugement iudgement iudgment iudgemente iudgmente

Derived

against one's better judgment age of judgment arrest of judgment cloud one's judgement Day of Judgment day of judgment declaratory judgment default judgment forejudgment judgmental judgment call judgment day judgment debt judgment hall judgment hour judgmentless judgment of God judgment of Solomon judgment proof judgment seat judgment summons judgment throne misjudgment nonjudgment