What does adjudged mean?
Adjudged is the past tense and past participle of the verb "adjudge," a formal word meaning to declare or determine something officially, especially by a court or other competent authority. When a defendant is adjudged guilty, a judge has made a formal ruling on their guilt; when an entry is adjudged the winner, a panel has officially deemed it the best. The word carries an air of legal authority and deliberation, and it appears most often in courtroom language, sporting decisions, and formal writing. It is somewhat more common in British English than American English, where "ruled" or "deemed" often takes its place. Derived from the Latin root judicare, "to judge," adjudged shares ancestry with judicial, justice, and jury. For writers, it offers a precise, authoritative alternative to plainer verbs when an official or considered judgment is at stake.
verbPast tense and past participle of "adjudge": to officially declare or determine something, especially by a court or other authority; to consider or deem something to be the case.
- To declare or determine officially, especially by a court or tribunal (e.g. adjudged guilty, adjudged bankrupt)
- To deem or consider something to be the case, especially after deliberation or competition (e.g. adjudged the best entry)
"The court adjudged the contract void and ordered the parties to renegotiate."
"The tribunal adjudged the company liable for the environmental damage."
"She was adjudged the winner of the debate after a close final round."
In older legal texts, a defendant "adjudged insane" could be committed without a jury — the word carries centuries of courtroom authority in just two syllables.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of adjudged
Adjudge entered English in the late Middle Ages from Old French "ajugier," itself derived from Latin "adjudicare," meaning "to award or judge," formed from ad- ("toward") and judicare ("to judge"). It has been used in English legal contexts since at least the fifteenth century. Its Latin root judicare also gives English judicial, justice, jury, and prejudice, making adjudged part of a broad family of judgment-related words.
Related word forms
How adjudged is actually used
"Adjudged" is formal and appears chiefly in legal, sporting, and official contexts. It is more common in British English, where it frequently appears in phrases like "adjudged bankrupt" or "adjudged insane." In everyday American usage, "deemed" or "ruled" is often preferred.
Easily confused with adjudged
"Adjudicated" emphasizes the formal process of hearing and settling a case, while "adjudged" emphasizes the final declaration or judgment itself.