judiciary

judiciary — noun

1. The branch of a national government that interprets laws and settles legal dispu

1.nounB2
Definition

The branch of a national government that interprets laws and settles legal disputes through a system of courts, separate from the law-making and administrative branches.

Example

South Africa's High Court blocked the president's emergency decree in 2024, proving the judiciary's independence.

collocation: independent judiciary

In 2015, Kenya's judiciary struck down a law that limited women's right to inherit land, ruling it unconstitutional.

Common collocations
  • independent judiciary
  • impartial judiciary
  • unified judiciary
Synonyms
  • judicial branch

    More specific; emphasises the constitutional separation-of-powers role

  • the courts

    Less formal and more practical, focusing on the institution where cases are heard

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

the judiciary

the [adjective] judiciary

Usage Note

Frequently contrasted with 'the executive' and 'the legislature' in discussions of the separation of powers. Subject is usually singular ('the judiciary has…'), even when referring to a collective body.

Common Mistakes

The judiciary sentenced the defendant to ten years in prison.
The judge sentenced the defendant to ten years in prison.
'Judiciary' refers to the institution or the body of judges collectively, not to a single judge.

2. The organised network of courts within a country that hear cases, apply existing

2.nounB2
Definition

The organised network of courts within a country that hear cases, apply existing laws, and resolve conflicts between individuals or between citizens and the state.

Example

India's judiciary handles everything from traffic ticket appeals in Mumbai to corruption trials in New Delhi.

possessive determiner + judiciary

Over the past decade, Germany's federal judiciary introduced digital filing and cut its case backlog by forty percent.

pre-modifier: federal judiciary

Common collocations
  • federal judiciary
  • state judiciary
  • overburdened judiciary
  • efficient judiciary
Synonyms
  • court system

    More concrete and everyday; refers to the physical and procedural structure of courts

  • judicial system

    Slightly broader, encompassing both courts and the principles of justice they follow

Grammar Patterns

the judiciary

the [adjective] judiciary

a [adjective] judiciary

Usage Note

Focuses on the organisational structure and functioning of courts rather than on individual judges. Often modified by adjectives describing capacity or quality ('overburdened', 'efficient', 'federal', 'state').

Common Mistakes

The British judiciary includes both judges and juries.
The British court system includes both judges and juries.
'Judiciary' refers specifically to the professional judges; juries are not part of it.

3. All the judges in a country or region, regarded as a single professional body th

3.nounB2
Definition

All the judges in a country or region, regarded as a single professional body that administers justice.

Example

After a rise in knife crime, the UK judiciary called on Parliament for stricter sentencing guidelines.

singular verb with collective judiciary

Before a drug trafficking trial begins, judges in Brazil must publicly declare any personal ties to the defendants.

phrase: members of the judiciary

Common collocations
  • the entire judiciary
  • senior members of the judiciary
  • independence of the judiciary
Synonyms
  • the bench

    Formal and idiomatic; used especially in the phrase 'the bench and the bar'

  • judges

    More straightforward and less institutional; refers to the individuals rather than the body

Grammar Patterns

the judiciary

members of the judiciary

the entire judiciary

Usage Note

Refers to judges as a collective professional body rather than as individuals. In British English, can take a singular or plural verb ('the judiciary has/have decided'), though singular agreement is more common in formal writing.

Common Mistakes

Three members of the judiciary were appointed last week' (vague).
Three new judges were appointed to the High Court last week.
When referring to specific individuals, 'judge' or 'justice' is clearer than 'member of the judiciary.'

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Judiciary, judicial branch, court system, the bench, and legal system all relate to the administration of justice but differ in scope and emphasis. 'Judiciary' is the most formal term for the branch of government that interprets laws and administers justice. 'Judicial branch' is equally formal and specifically emphasises the separation-of-powers distinction from the executive and legislature. 'Court system' is a more concrete, everyday term that focuses on the physical and organisational structure of courts — it is preferred when discussing logistics, caseloads, or procedures. 'The bench' is a formal collective noun referring specifically to judges themselves, particularly in the phrase 'the bench and the bar.' 'Legal system' is the broadest term, encompassing courts, judges, lawyers, laws, and procedures together. For example: 'The judiciary struck down the law on constitutional grounds' (institutional role) vs. 'The court system was overwhelmed after the new legislation took effect' (practical capacity) vs. 'The bench issued a statement opposing the reforms' (judges as people).

judicial branchcourt systemthe benchlegal system

Common collocations

Nouns

  • independence of the judiciary
  • reform of the judiciary
  • member of the judiciary
  • power of the judiciary
  • role of the judiciary

Phrases

  • the judiciary and the executive
  • the judiciary and the legislature
  • the independence of the judiciary

Prepositions

  • within the judiciary

Etymology

LatinAnglo-FrenchEnglish

From Latin 'judiciarius' ('relating to courts of justice'), derived from 'judicium' ('judgment, legal decision'), which comes from 'judex' ('a judge' — literally 'one who points out the right'). The word entered English via Anglo-French during the 16th century, originally as an adjective meaning 'pertaining to justice,' and later developed into a noun referring to the judicial branch of government.