: an obligation (such as a debt) created by the decree of a court
(2)
: a certificate evidencing such a decree
5
a
capitalized: the final judging of humankind by God
sinners awaiting Judgment
b
: a divine sentence or decision
specifically: a calamity held to be sent by God
believed their bad luck to be a judgment upon them
6
: a proposition stating something believed or asserted
Did you know?
Judgment can also be spelled judgement, and usage experts have long disagreed over which spelling is the preferred one. Henry Fowler asserted that "the OED [Oxford English Dictionary] prefers the older & more reasonable spelling. Judgement is therefore here recommended…." William Safire held an opposite opinion, writing, "My judgment is that Fowler is not to be followed on his spelling of judgement." Judgement is in fact the older spelling, but it dropped from favor and for centuries judgment was the only spelling to appear in dictionaries. That changed when the OED (Fowler's source) was published showing judgement as an equal variant. Today, judgment is more popular in the U.S., whereas both spellings make a good showing in Britain.
sense implies a reliable ability to judge and decide with soundness, prudence, and intelligence.
a choice showing good sense
common sense suggests an average degree of such ability without sophistication or special knowledge.
common sense tells me it's wrong
judgment implies sense tempered and refined by experience, training, and maturity.
they relied on her judgment for guidance
wisdom implies sense and judgment far above average.
a leader of rare wisdom
Example Sentences
We have to make a judgment about the value of their services. The judgment of the editors is final. Don't rush to judgment without examining the evidence. “Were his policies good or bad?” “I'll have to reserve judgment on that. It's too soon to know.” Use your own best judgment. The court granted a judgment in favor of the plaintiffs. the judgment of the court I won a judgment against the bank. See More
Recent Examples on the WebFor instance, the campus health center at TJU provides STI testing, pregnancy testing, free condoms, birth control, and emergency contraception in a judgment-free environment that’s designed just for college students, says Grugan. Kirsten Nunez, SELF, 8 Sep. 2022 The way Swanson and White described Ward’s instruction style as a judgment-free space filled with laughter, encouragement and good music. Sarah Lapidus, AZCentral.com, 14 Aug. 2022 One way Cincinnati Children's has tried to provide judgment-free information is through its online Vaccine Resources center. Terry Demio, The Enquirer, 10 Aug. 2022 My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment. Okla Jones, Essence, 8 Aug. 2022 My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment. Today, NBC News, 5 Aug. 2022 The way Swanson and White described Ward’s instruction style as a judgment-free space filled with laughter, encouragement and good music. Sam Burdette, The Arizona Republic, 31 July 2022 My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment. Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 29 July 2022 My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment. Lars Brandle, Billboard, 29 July 2022 See More