verdict

/ˈvʌrdɪkt/

/ˈvʌdɪkt/

Other forms: verdicts

A verdict is a decision made after a lot of considering, usually made by the jury in a courtroom. If you've finally decided that the test was unfair, that's your verdict and you should talk to the teacher about it.

Although verdicts are usually announced in a courtroom, any time someone makes a judgment about something, it's a verdict. The truth lies in the root of this word: ver comes from the Latin verus, meaning "true." Ver shows up in other words — to verify something is to prove that it's true, and veracious is an adjective meaning "truthful." And the truth is exactly what the judge needs when he's trying to decide the verdict of a case.

Definitions of verdict

1. noun

   (law) the findings of a jury on issues of fact submitted to it for decision; can be used in formulating a judgment
   synonyms: finding of fact

   types:

   compromise verdict

   a verdict resulting from improper compromises between jurors on material issues

   directed verdict

   a verdict entered by the court in a jury trial without consideration by the jury

   false verdict

   a manifestly unjust verdict; not true to the evidence

   general verdict

   an ordinary verdict declaring which party prevails without any special findings of fact

   partial verdict

   (criminal law) a finding that the defendant is guilty of some charges but innocent of others

   special verdict

   a verdict rendered on certain specific factual issues posed by the court without finding for one party or the other

   quotient verdict

   an improper and unacceptable kind of compromise verdict

   type of:

   finding

   the decision of a court on issues of fact or law
2. noun

   a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration
   synonyms: conclusion, decision, determination

   types:

   predetermination

   a mental determination or resolve in advance; an antecedent intention to do something

   type of:

   judgement, judgment, mind

   an opinion formed by judging something