judgment
gb/d͡ʒˈʌd͡ʒmənt/ us/d͡ʒˈʌd͡ʒmənt/
B1
English
~ 2300
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
property
1
Ability to make good decisions
The ability to make good and sensible choices.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s judgment about [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'judgment' with 'opinion'; while related, 'judgment' implies evaluation and decision-making, not just personal preference.
Synonyms
discernment (Implies a refined ability to notice and judge well, often in a subtle way.)
Antonyms
misjudgment (Refers to making a wrong or poor decision.)
Collocations
good judgment
|poor judgment
|sound judgment
|exercise judgment
|show judgment
Themes
thinking
|decision-making
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her quick judgment saved the company from a bad investment.
- He is known for his sound judgment in difficult situations.
- The teacher trusted her judgment when choosing the class project.
- You need to use your own judgment here.
- Poor judgment led to the team's defeat.
Learner examples
- She has good judgment at work.
- I trust his judgment.
- He used good judgment in the game.
- Her judgment helped us win.
- Bad judgment can cause problems.
Noun
B2
entity
2
Official court decision
An official decision made by a judge or court.
Usage pattern:
a judgment against [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'judgment' with 'verdict'; 'verdict' usually refers to the decision of a jury, while 'judgment' is the formal pronouncement by the court.
Synonyms
ruling (A general term for an official decision, especially in legal contexts.)
Antonyms
acquittal (In criminal law, an acquittal is a decision that someone is not guilty, which can be the opposite of a guilty judgment.)
Collocations
court judgment
|final judgment
|enter judgment
|appeal a judgment
Themes
law
|government
Examples
- The court issued a judgment in her favor.
- The judgment was appealed to a higher court.
- He refused to comply with the judgment.
- The final judgment will be announced next week.
Learner examples
- The judge gave his judgment.
- The court made a judgment against him.
- They will hear the final judgment tomorrow.
- She won the case by judgment.
Noun
B1
entity
3
Formed opinion after consideration
An opinion made after thinking carefully about something.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s judgment that [clause]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes overuse 'judgment' in casual speech where 'opinion' would be more natural; 'judgment' often suggests authority or expertise.
Synonyms
assessment (Focuses on evaluation after analysis, often in professional contexts.)
Antonyms
guess (A conclusion made without careful thought or evidence.)
Collocations
personal judgment
|professional judgment
|pass judgment
Themes
thinking
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- In my judgment, the plan will fail.
- That was her professional judgment based on years of study.
- His judgment was that they should wait until morning.
Learner examples
- In my judgment, it is safe.
- His judgment is that we wait.
- She made a good judgment about the problem.
Grammar
Dictionary form
judgment
IPA
GB/d͡ʒˈʌd͡ʒmənt/
US/d͡ʒˈʌd͡ʒmənt/
Syllables & stress
judg - ment (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (judg)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: judgment
- Plural: judgment, judgments
Word family
Expressions
against one's better judgment
1/əɡˈɛnst wˈʌnz bˈɛtɚ d͡ʒˈʌd͡ʒmənt/
fixed phrase
Against what one thinks is wise
Doing something even though you believe it is not a good idea.
Examples
- Against my better judgment, I agreed to go with them.
- She lent him money against her better judgment.
in my judgment
1/ˈɪn mˈaɪ d͡ʒˈʌd͡ʒmənt/
fixed phrase
According to my opinion
This means 'I think' or 'in my opinion', especially after thinking carefully about it.
Examples
- In my judgment, we should proceed carefully.
- In my judgment, this is the best choice.
pass judgment
1/pˈæs d͡ʒˈʌd͡ʒmənt/
fixed phrase
Form and express an opinion
To decide and say what you think about someone or something, often in a critical way.
Examples
- It is unfair to pass judgment without knowing all the facts.
- She passed judgment on his work before he had finished.
reserve judgment
1/ɹɪzˈɚv d͡ʒˈʌd͡ʒmənt/
fixed phrase
Delay forming an opinion
To wait before deciding what you think about something.
Examples
- I will reserve judgment until I see more evidence.
- Let's reserve judgment until we hear from both sides.