judgement
Pluraljudgements
US spellingjudgment
- 1The opinion or decision a person arrives at after considering something.
In my judgement, the old bridge is too weak to carry lorries.
It is too early to make any firm judgements about the new policy.
UsagePeople make or form a judgement about something, and pass judgement on someone, often critically.
Similaropinion, view, verdict, conclusion, estimation
Note
The phrase in my judgement works like in my opinion but sounds more considered, and it is old: Shakespeare writes "She in my judgment was as fair as you" in The Two Gentlemen of Verona.
- 2The mental power of weighing things up and reaching conclusions; used on its own, especially the ability to judge or decide rightly, fairly or wisely.
A good editor needs sharp judgement as well as a love of books.
Against my better judgement, I agreed to lend him the money.
UsageAgainst my better judgement means doing something even though you felt it was unwise.
Similardiscernment, sense, wisdom, discretion
Note
Shakespeare sets this faculty against mere sight in A Midsummer Night's Dream: when Hermia wishes her father looked with her eyes, Theseus answers that her eyes must rather look with his judgement.
- 3The process of weighing something up in order to form an opinion or reach a decision about it.
Fair judgement of a candidate's work means reading all of it, not just the first page.
Accurate judgement of the speed of oncoming cars is essential when pulling out of a junction.
UsagePairs with of: judgement of speed, of distance, of a candidate's work.
Similarassessment, evaluation, appraisal
Note
British English mostly spells it with the e of judge, though British legal writing keeps judgment.
- 4In religious belief, God's final judging of all people at the end of the world, which decides the fate of every soul.
Wall paintings in many medieval churches show souls being weighed at the judgement.
The sermon warned that no one, rich or poor, could escape the final judgement.
UsageOften with capitals: the Last Judgement, Judgement Day.
Note
Before the French word arrived, English used doom for the same idea, and judgement only partly pushed it aside, which is why Doomsday and the day of judgement still name the same day.
Used only in American English, spelled judgment: a court's or judge's decision.
Practice
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Origin
Middle English juggement was borrowed from Old French jugement. That word goes back to Late Latin iūdicāmentum, itself built on Latin iūdicō. The word partly took over from doom, and it can also be read as judge plus -ment.