judges
B1Formal (legal context); Neutral (general evaluative context)
Definition
Meaning
Officials with the authority to decide cases in a court of law; to form an opinion or conclusion about something.
1. (Noun) Individuals appointed to adjudicate legal disputes and preside over trials. 2. (Plural noun) The title of a Biblical book of the Old Testament. 3. (Verb, 3rd person singular present) To evaluate, assess, or form a critical opinion about a person, situation, or competition.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a noun, it is the plural form of 'judge.' The verb form is regular but homographic (looks identical to the plural noun). The meaning shifts from a legal authority to a general evaluator.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use 'judges' identically for court officials. Slight potential for different vocabulary in compound titles (e.g., 'High Court Judge' vs. 'Federal Judge').
Connotations
Identical core legal connotations. In evaluative contexts, 'judges' can carry a slightly negative connotation of being overly critical in both varieties.
Frequency
High frequency in legal and general contexts in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP judges] + [that-clause] (The judges ruled that the evidence was inadmissible.)[NP judges] + [NP] + [to be AP] (The judges considered him to be guilty.)[NP judges] + [between/among NP] (She judges between the competing entries.)[NP] + [is judged] + [by NP] (A society is judged by how it treats its weakest members.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “sober as a judge”
- “judge, jury and executioner”
- “don't judge a book by its cover”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used for people; more common as verb: 'The market judges a company by its profitability.'
Academic
Common in law, sociology, and ethics: 'The study analyses how higher court judges interpret the statute.'
Everyday
Common: 'The talent show judges were very harsh.' 'I hate it when people judge me.'
Technical
Specific in law: 'The recusal of judges is governed by strict rules.' Also in sports: 'The judges' scores are now displayed.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The panel judges the bake-off on flavour and presentation.
- One should not judge a person by their accent.
American English
- The committee judges the science fair projects this Friday.
- It's hard to judge distance in the fog.
adverb
British English
- N/A for 'judges'. The related adverb is 'judicially'.
American English
- N/A for 'judges'. The related adverb is 'judicially'.
adjective
British English
- N/A for 'judges'. The related adjective is 'judicial'.
American English
- N/A for 'judges'. The related adjective is 'judicial'.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- There are three judges in the competition.
- Do not judge people too quickly.
- The judges awarded her first prize for her painting.
- It is not our place to judge their lifestyle choices.
- The judges' unanimous verdict was read aloud in a tense courtroom.
- Historical figures are often judged by the moral standards of our time, not their own.
- Appellate judges meticulously scrutinised the lower court's application of the precedent.
- The efficacy of the policy should be judged by its long-term socioeconomic outcomes, not short-term popularity.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'JUDGES Just Use Deep, Good, Expert Sense.'
Conceptual Metaphor
JUDGING IS MEASURING (weighing the evidence), JUDGING IS SEEING (seeing the truth), A JUDGE IS A PARENT (disciplinary figure).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- False friend with 'юрист' (lawyer/jurist). A 'judge' is specifically 'судья'.
- The verb 'to judge' is broader than 'судить'. It can mean 'считать, полагать' (I judge it to be unsafe) without a legal context.
- Avoid using 'критиковать' as a direct synonym; 'to judge' is about forming an opinion, not necessarily expressing criticism.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'The judges has made a decision.' Correct: 'The judges have made a decision.' (plural verb)
- Incorrect: 'He is a good judge of the competition.' (Confusing role: 'in' or 'for' is better) Correct: 'He is a good judge in the competition.'
- Spelling: Confusing 'judges' (plural noun/verb) with 'judge's' (possessive).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'judges' used as a VERB?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the standard pronunciation /ˈdʒʌdʒɪz/ is virtually identical in both major varieties.
No, 'judges' is grammatically plural. The singular form is 'judge'. However, as a verb, 'judges' is the third person singular present tense (he/she/it judges).
In many legal systems, a 'judge' is a legally qualified official presiding over higher courts, while a 'magistrate' (or justice of the peace) may deal with less serious cases in lower courts and may not always require formal legal qualifications.
Yes, it is common and correct in informal English to mean 'I am forming a critical opinion about your actions/choices.' It often carries a slightly humorous or accusatory tone.