adjudicate

present singular third person adjudicates · participle present adjudicating · participle past adjudicated · past adjudicated

1. transitiveTo decide, rule on, or settle as a judge.

   In North Carolina, provisional ballots are adjudicated to determine whether the voter was eligible to cast the ballot.

   2020 November 5, Devan Cole, “Here’s what to know about ballot adjudication”, in CNN, archived from the original on 08 Dec 2022

   5 more examples

   From the twelfth century Shetland had been administered directly by the Norwegian crown through the 'foud', rather than forming part of the patrimony of a great aristocratic estate. The foud appointed 'underfouds' and the Shetlands evolved their own elected officers, a 'lawman' and parish 'lawrightmen', who adjudicated and negotiated the collection of customary taxes and fines on behalf of the local population.

   1983, Paul Thompson, Tony Wailey, Trevor Lummis, History Workshop Series, Living the Fishing, Routledge & Kegan Paul

   Blinded to the outcomes of HPV testing, samples were thereafter evaluated by cytoscreeners using FocalPoint GS Imaging System (BD), and abnormal findings were adjudicated by pathologists.

   2016 January 21, Matejka Rebolj, et al., “Human Papillomavirus Assays and Cytology in Primary Cervical Screening of Women Aged 30 Years and Above”, in PLOS ONE, →DOI, archived from the original on 12 Jul 2023

   The general counsel, Jennifer Abruzzo, who enforces federal labor law by prosecuting violations, said her office would soon file a brief in a case before the labor board, which adjudicates such questions, asking the board to reverse its precedent on the meetings.

   2022 April 7, Noam Scheiber, “N.L.R.B. counsel calls for a ban on mandatory anti-union meetings.”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 01 Jun 2022

   The Union Home Ministry has constituted four tribunals […] to adjudicate whether or not there are sufficient grounds for declaring several Jammu and Kashmir-based groups as banned organisations […]

   2024 April 7, PTI, “Tribunals formed to adjudicate if sufficient grounds available to declare J-K groups as banned”, in Deccan Herald, archived from the original on 05 May 2024

   A report for the city's finance and corporate services committee recommends the city implement an administrative penalty system for adjudicating parking and camera-based offences, with municipally appointed screening and hearing officers adjudicating ticket disputes instead of the provincial court system.

   2024 April 29, Josh Pringle, “Ottawa looks to move photo radar and red light camera tickets out of provincial courts”, in CTV News, archived from the original on 23 Jul 2025

   Synonyms: arbitrate, decide, settle, resolve, try

2. intransitiveoftenTo act as a judge.

   A Court of Arbitration, constituted by the World Bank in The Hague, has brushed aside New Delhi’s objections and concluded that it has the competence to adjudicate on Pakistan’s objection to the Kishenganga and Ralte hydroelectric projects of India.

   2023 July 7, Anirban Bhaumik, “Court of Arbitration concludes it can adjudicate on Pakistan’s objection to India’s hydel projects, New Delhi rejects ruling”, in Deccan Herald, archived from the original on 05 May 2024

   Synonyms: judge, judge, sit in judgement

3. transitiveScots lawTo seize or convey as security.