verdict
A verdict is the official decision made by a jury or judge in a court of law about whether someone is guilty or not guilty. It is also used to describe a person's final opinion or judgment about something after testing or considering it.
Examples
3 of 5So, what is the verdict on the new pizza place downtown?
So, what is the opinion on the new pizza place downtown?
The jury returned a verdict of guilty after four hours of deliberation.
The jury returned a decision of guilty after four hours of deliberation.
I'm waiting for my mom's verdict on my new outfit.
I'm waiting for my mom's opinion on my new outfit.
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of 'Ver' (truth, like verify) and 'dict' (speak, like dictionary). A verdict is 'to speak the truth.'
Quick Quiz
The jury took three days to reach a _______ in the difficult case.
Correct!
The correct answer is: verdict
Examples
So, what is the verdict on the new pizza place downtown?
everydaySo, what is the opinion on the new pizza place downtown?
The jury returned a verdict of guilty after four hours of deliberation.
formalThe jury returned a decision of guilty after four hours of deliberation.
I'm waiting for my mom's verdict on my new outfit.
informalI'm waiting for my mom's opinion on my new outfit.
Scholars are still divided in their verdict regarding the cause of the war.
academicScholars are still divided in their judgment regarding the cause of the war.
The board reached a final verdict to reject the merger proposal.
businessThe board reached a final decision to reject the merger proposal.
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
the verdict is in
the decision has been made
await the verdict
wait to hear the final decision
reach a consensus
to arrive at a verdict everyone accepts
Often Confused With
A verdict is the decision of guilt or innocence, while a sentence is the specific punishment given afterward.
Usage Notes
While 'verdict' is a legal term, it is very common in metaphors to describe a person's conclusion about food, movies, or ideas.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use 'result' when talking about a trial; 'verdict' is the more precise word for a legal decision.
Memory Tip
Think of 'Ver' (truth, like verify) and 'dict' (speak, like dictionary). A verdict is 'to speak the truth.'
Word Origin
Derived from the Anglo-Norman 'verdit', meaning 'a true saying' or 'report'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In many Western legal systems, a verdict must be unanimous, meaning every member of the jury must agree on the outcome.
Quick Quiz
The jury took three days to reach a _______ in the difficult case.
Correct!
The correct answer is: verdict
Related Phrases
Related Vocabulary
A group of ordinary people chosen to listen to the facts of...
sentenceA sentence is a punishment given by a judge to someone who h...
evidenceInformation or objects that help to prove something is true...
trialA formal process in a court of law to decide if someone is g...
judgeA judge is a person who works in a court of law and makes of...
More law words
prosecutor
A1A prosecutor is a lawyer who works for the government. Their job is to show a court that someone has committed a crime.
defendant
A1A defendant is a person or organization that is being accused of a crime or is being sued in a court of law. This person is required to answer the legal charges brought against them by another party.
plaintiff
A1A person or group who brings a legal case against another in a court of law. They are the ones starting the lawsuit because they believe they have been wronged.
jury
A1A group of ordinary people chosen to listen to the facts of a trial in a court of law. They listen to the evidence and decide if a person is guilty or not guilty.
lawsuit
A1A lawsuit is a legal case where one person or group brings a disagreement to a court of law for a judge to decide. It usually happens when someone wants money or a specific action from another person because of a problem or injury.
proof
A1Proof is a fact or a piece of information that shows something is true. In a legal context, it is what a person uses to convince a judge or jury that a crime happened.
misdemeanor
A1A misdemeanor is a minor crime that is less serious than a felony. It is usually punished by a fine or a short period of time in a local jail rather than a state prison.
sentence
A1A sentence is a punishment given by a judge to someone who has been found guilty of a crime. It explains how much time a person must spend in prison or how much money they must pay as a fine.
bail
A1Bail is a sum of money paid to a court so that a person who has been accused of a crime can stay out of jail until their trial starts. If the person shows up for their court date, the money is usually returned.
fraud
A1Fraud is the illegal act of tricking someone to get their money or property. It is a crime where a person lies or hides the truth to gain an unfair advantage.
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