adjudge
C2Formal, Legal, Official
Definition
Meaning
To make an official judgment or decision about something; to declare something to be the case.
To consider, deem, or pronounce something formally or officially, often in a legal or authoritative context.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word implies an official, formal, and often legal pronouncement. It is not used for casual decisions. It can be followed by a direct object and an object complement (e.g., adjudged him guilty), or used in passive constructions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major difference in meaning or usage. Slightly more common in UK legal contexts, but used formally in both.
Connotations
Formality, legal authority, finality of decision.
Frequency
Rare in everyday speech in both varieties; primarily used in legal, official, and academic formal writing.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
SVOdCo (Subject Verb Object Complement) - The court adjudged him liable.Be + adjudged + to infinitive - He was adjudged to have breached the contract.It + be + adjudged + that-clause - It was adjudged that the claim was valid.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “adjudged in default”
- “adjudged of record”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in formal reports or arbitration, e.g., 'The arbitrator adjudged the merger to be anti-competitive.'
Academic
Used in legal and historical texts, e.g., 'The treaty was adjudged to be in violation of international law.'
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would be used humorously or ironically for minor decisions, e.g., 'I adjudge this cake the winner of the bake-off.'
Technical
Core usage in law, e.g., 'The defendant was adjudged not guilty by reason of insanity.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The High Court adjudged the company to be in contempt.
- The prize was adjudged to the most innovative design.
- He was adjudged bankrupt last month.
American English
- The jury adjudged the defendant liable for damages.
- The panel adjudged her the winner of the competition.
- The contract was adjudged void due to fraud.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- (Not applicable - word is too advanced for A2).
- (Not typical for B1 - word is formal/legal).
- The referee adjudged it a foul.
- Historians have adjudged him one of the greatest leaders of his time.
- The court adjudged the legislation to be incompatible with human rights law.
- If the applicant is adjudged to have misled the committee, their candidacy will be withdrawn.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: ADJUDge = ADJust + JUDGe. A judge makes an official adjustment to someone's legal status.
Conceptual Metaphor
LEGAL PROCESS AS A SCALE (Weighing and declaring the official weight/result).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'adjust' (настраивать).
- Not a synonym for 'think' or 'believe' (думать). It is an official declaration.
- Closer to 'признать официально/судом' than to 'судить' in its general sense.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'adjudge' for informal opinions (e.g., 'I adjudge this film boring').
- Confusing spelling with 'adjudicate' (adjudge is more about the final pronouncement; adjudicate can refer to the whole process).
- Incorrect passive: 'He was adjudged as guilty' (correct: 'adjudged guilty' or 'adjudged to be guilty').
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following sentences is 'adjudge' used CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Adjudge' is more formal and often implies a final, official, or legal pronouncement. 'Judge' is broader and can be used for both formal decisions and personal opinions.
It is very frequently used in the passive voice (e.g., 'He was adjudged guilty'), as the focus is often on the outcome of an official process rather than the actor.
Yes, but typically in impersonal constructions like 'It was adjudged that...'. A direct object + complement structure is more common (e.g., 'They adjudged him a genius').
Yes, they are etymological cousins. 'Adjudicate' often refers to the entire process of acting as a judge or arbitrator. 'Adjudge' typically refers to the specific act of making and announcing the final judgment.