judg ‧ ment W2 BrE AmE ( also judgement British English ) /ˈdʒʌdʒmənt/ noun
1 . OPINION [uncountable and countable] an opinion that you form, especially after thinking carefully about something:
It’s too soon to make a judgment about what the outcome will be.
In my judgment, we should accept his offer.
pass judgment (on something) (=give your opinion, especially a negative one)
Our aim is to help him, not to pass judgment on what he has done.
I’d advise you to reserve judgment (=not decide your opinion before you have all the facts) .
against your better judgment (=even though you do not think it is a sensible thing to do)
I lent him the money, against my better judgment.
2 . ABILITY TO DECIDE [uncountable] the ability to make sensible decisions about what to do and when to do it:
I’ve known him for years and I trust his judgment.
professional/personal etc judgment
The minister showed a lack of political judgment.
a decision based on sound judgment (=good judgment)
Watch carefully and use your judgment.
⇨ error of judgment at ↑ error (3)
3 . LAW [uncountable and countable] an official decision given by a judge or a court of law:
The company were fined £6 million, following a recent court judgment.
4 . a judgment (on somebody/something) formal something bad that happens to someone and seems like a punishment for the things they have done wrong
5 . judgment call American English informal a decision you have to make yourself because there are no fixed rules in a situation
⇨ ↑ last judgment , ↑ value judgment , ⇨ sit in judgment at ↑ sit (10)
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COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ make a judgment
It's too soon to make a judgment about what the outcome will be.
▪ form a judgment (=make a judgment)
I prefer to form my own judgments, rather than relying on other people's opinions.
▪ pass judgment (on something) (=give your opinion, especially a negative one)
Our aim is to help him, not to pass judgment on what he has done.
▪ reserve judgment (=not decide your opinion before you have all the facts)
Why don't you reserve judgment until you have finished the book?
▪ base a judgment on something (=make a judgment because of something )
His judgment was based on bad information.
■ adjectives
▪ a moral judgment (=based on what you think is right)
People are always making moral judgments about weight loss.
▪ a snap judgment (=made quickly)
In my business, I often have to make snap judgments about people.
■ phrases
▪ against your better judgment (=even though you think your action might be wrong)
I lent him the money, against my better judgment.