adjudicate

/əˌdʒudəˈkeɪt/

Other forms: adjudicated; adjudicating; adjudicates

To adjudicate is to act like a judge. A judge might adjudicate a case in court, and you may have to adjudicate in the local talent show.

Do you see a similarity between judge and adjudicate? When you add the common Latin prefix ad meaning "to" or "toward," you have a pretty good idea what the word means. But a judge isn't the only person who can adjudicate. If you're fighting with your little brother or sister and make them cry, your parents may adjudicate and send you to your room.

Definitions of adjudicate

1. verb

   put on trial or hear a case and sit as the judge at the trial of
   synonyms: judge, try

   types:

   court-martial

   subject to trial by court-martial

   type of:

   decide, determine, make up one's mind

   reach, make, or come to a decision about something
2. verb

   bring to an end; settle conclusively
   “The father adjudicated when the sons were quarreling over their inheritance”

   synonyms: decide, dispose, resolve, settle

   types:

   judge

   determine the result of (a competition)

   adjust

   decide how much is to be paid on an insurance claim

   referee, umpire

   be a referee or umpire in a sports competition

   type of:

   end, terminate

   bring to an end or halt