What is adjudicate? Pronunciation and usage in English

adjudicate means . Learn how to pronounce and use adjudicate through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of adjudicate

adjudicateverb

/əˈdʒuːdɪkeɪt//əˈdʒuːdɪkeɪt/

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "adjudicate." It's a tricky word! Here's a breakdown with phonetic spelling and tips:

Phonetic Spelling (IPA - International Phonetic Alphabet):

/ˌædʒjuːˈdeɪkeɪt/

Breaking it down syllable by syllable:

  • ad-: Sounds like "ad" as in "add" – short 'a' sound.
  • juu-: Sounds like “you” – similar to the ‘you’ in “you are”. Hold the vowel sound a little longer.
  • day-: Sounds like "day" – same as the word “day”.
  • keɪ-: Sounds like "key" – a short, sharp 'i' sound.
  • t: A very quick, almost silent 't' sound.

Putting it together:

It's roughly pronounced: "adj-you-day-key-t"

Tips for Saying it Correctly:

  1. Stress: The stress is on the third syllable: "juu-" - it's the longest syllable in the word.

  2. "juu-" Sound: This is the trickiest part. Make sure you don't just say "ju." Hold the "u" sound slightly longer and with a bit of an upward inflection.

  3. Quick "t": Don't emphasize the 't' at the end. It's almost silent and blends into the next syllable.

Resources to hear it:

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Usage and examples with the word adjudicate in English

Let's break down how to use the word "adjudicate." It's a slightly formal word with a specific meaning, so it's important to understand it.

What does "adjudicate" mean?

At its core, "adjudicate" means to make a formal judgment or decision, especially about a dispute or claim. It suggests a process where someone (a judge, panel, or committee) examines evidence and then officially rules on something.

Here’s a breakdown of its uses and nuances:

1. Legal and Judicial Contexts (Most Common)

  • Referring to Courts and Legal Proceedings: This is where "adjudicate" is most frequently used.
    • “The judge will adjudicate the case next week.” (meaning the judge will make a final judgment)
    • “The jury was tasked to adjudicate the evidence presented.” (meaning the jury had to decide based on the evidence)
    • “The appeals court will adjudicate disputes arising from the original trial.” (meaning the appeals court will decide on the disagreements from the first trial)

2. Formal Disputes & Claims (Beyond Courts)

  • Insurance Claims: "An insurance company will adjudicate your claim" - meaning they'll formally evaluate and decide whether to pay it.
  • Competitions/Contests: "The panel will adjudicate the entries in the photography contest" - meaning they’ll judge and choose the winners.
  • Awards/Grants: “The committee will adjudicate the applications for the scholarship.” (meaning they will decide which applicants get the scholarship).
  • Disciplinary Matters: “The university will adjudicate the student’s actions after the incident.” (meaning they will investigate and make a judgment.)

3. More General Sense (Less Common - Use Carefully)

  • Making a Decision on Something Complex: You can use it more broadly to describe making a decision after careful consideration, but it sounds more formal than words like "decide" or "determine".
    • “The board will adjudicate the best course of action for the company.” (This is acceptable, but "consider" or "assess" might be smoother.)

Key Phrases & Constructions:

  • Adjudicate a dispute: (Most common phrase) - This means to resolve a disagreement through a formal decision.
  • Adjudicate a claim: (Common, especially in insurance) - To evaluate and decide on a claim.
  • Adjudicate evidence: To examine and assess evidence presented.

Synonyms (to help you find alternatives):

  • Judge
  • Determine
  • Decide
  • Rule
  • Resolve
  • Assess
  • Evaluate

Example Sentences Demonstrating Usage:

  1. “The arbitration panel will adjudicate the contract dispute between the two companies.”
  2. “The administrator is responsible for adjudicating applications for residency permits.”
  3. “The judges will adjudicate the merits of each argument presented by the lawyers.”

Resources for Further Learning:

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • Where did you encounter the word "adjudicate"? (e.g., a news article, a legal document, a conversation?)
  • What were you trying to express when you wanted to use the word?

Synonyms for the word adjudicate

Practice with vocabulary adjudicate

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. An independent panel was formed to __________ the complex boundary dispute between the two nations.
  2. The company's internal ethics committee will __________ complaints of workplace misconduct, ensuring a fair process for all involved.
  3. After weeks of discussions, the diplomats finally managed to __________ a peaceful resolution to the trade disagreements.
  4. Before presenting their findings, the scientific team needed to thoroughly __________ the collected data for any anomalies.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (there may be multiple correct answers per question)

  1. Which of the following actions might a judge be called upon to perform in a court of law regarding a dispute? a) Mediate b) Adjudicate c) Opine d) Prosecute

  2. When an impartial third party is formally asked to make a binding decision in a conflict, they are most likely to: a) Dictate b) Arbitrate c) Adjudicate d) Preside over

  3. The regulatory body's primary role is to __________ claims of unfair competition and impose penalties where necessary. a) Negotiate b) Adjudicate c) Conciliate d) Ignore

  4. If two businesses are trying to reach a mutual agreement on contract terms without involving a court, they would typically: a) Litigate b) Negotiate c) Mediate d) Determine

  5. Before making a policy recommendation, the task force was tasked with __________ all relevant information and stakeholder feedback. a) Conclude b) Investigate c) Examine d) Prescribe

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Original: The board will make the final decision regarding the validity of the patent claim. Rewrite using "adjudicate" or a related word form:

  2. Original: The legal process of settling a complex insurance claim can often take many months. Rewrite using "adjudicate" or a related word form:

  3. Original: The counselor helped the divorcing couple work through their differences to find common ground. Rewrite using a suitable replacement word (do not use "adjudicate"):

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. adjudicate
  2. adjudicate
  3. resolve
  4. investigate

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. b) Adjudicate
  2. b) Arbitrate, c) Adjudicate
  3. b) Adjudicate
  4. b) Negotiate, c) Mediate
  5. b) Investigate, c) Examine

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The board will adjudicate the validity of the patent claim.
  2. The adjudication of a complex insurance claim can often take many months.
  3. The counselor helped the divorcing couple mediate their differences to find common ground.

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