/ əˈdʒuːdɪkeɪt; NAmE / verb
1.
adjudicate (on / upon / in sth) | adjudicate (between A and B) to make an official decision about who is right in a disagreement between two groups or organizations :
[ v ]
A special subcommittee adjudicates on planning applications.
[ vn ]
Their purpose is to adjudicate disputes between employers and employees.
2.
[ v ] to be a judge in a competition :
Who is adjudicating at this year's contest?
► ad·ju·di·ca·tion / əˌdʒuːdɪˈkeɪʃn; NAmE / noun [ U , C ]:
The case was referred to a higher court for adjudication.
► ad·ju·di·ca·tor noun :
You may refer your complaint to an independent adjudicator.
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WORD ORIGIN
early 18th cent. (in the sense award judicially ): from Latin adjudicat- awarded judicially, from the verb adjudicare , from ad- to + judicare , from judex , judic- a judge. The noun adjudication (as a Scots legal term) dates from the early 17th cent.