Judgment and judgement are two different spellings of the same word and noun meaning “to form an opinion”, the opinion itself or the “capacity to form opinions”.
Judgement vs. judgment
The spelling varies on whether you’re writing using UK English or US English:
The judge delivered his judgment swiftly. .
Her judgement of character was surprisingly accurate. .
The court’s judgement was overturned. .
His harsh judgemental attitude alienated many. .
- UK English spells “judgement” with “e”.
- US English spells “judgment” without the “e”.
Exceptions: The standard spelling for most contexts (in UK English) is to include the vowel ‘e’. The main exception being its use in legal contexts; e.g., “the court’s judgment“. It’s recommended to stick to the US spelling (without the ‘e’) in legal contexts.
Word forms of judgement/judgment
| word class | spelling |
|---|---|
| verb | judge, judges, judging, judged |
| noun | judgment/judgement |
| adjective | judgemental |
| adverb | judgmentally |
UK English vs. US English spelling differences
There are various spelling differences and preferences between US and UK English. A few common patterns include the single or double ‘L’ in certain verbs, or US English’s preference for the standard past tense conjugation (which just adds “-ed”). See the chart below.
| UK English | US English |
|---|---|
| labelled, labelling, cancelled, cancellingmodelled, modellingtravelled, travelling | labeled, labeling, canceled, cancelingmodeled, modelingtraveled, traveling |
| burnt, spelt, smelt | burned, spelled, smelled |
“Judgement”/ “judgment”, used in sentences
Against my better judgment/judgement, I drove with a flat tire.
She showed a lack of judgment/judgement when she gave Mark the job.
It’s not something I can give you rules for; you’ll have to use your judgment/judgement.
He achieved his aim more by luck than judgment/judgement.
The accident was caused by an error of judgment/judgement on the part of the pilot.
“Judgement”/ “judgment”, used in the media
At its root, reinforcement learning is learning from your mistakes in judgment.
—From Singularity Hub
At some point, it becomes a judgment call, which is why jurisdictions’ rules vary so much.
—From FiveThirtyEight
The treatment involves applying electrodes to a spot in the brain called the internal capsule, and works by stimulating connections to the prefrontal cortex to improve cognitive functions such as perception and judgment.
— From Fortune
“judgment” (US) and “judgement” (UK), associate the “e” with UK English and legal contexts.
Judgement, synonyms
Phrases with judgement
- Judgement Day
- The Day of Judgement
- reserve/hold your judgment
- value judgement
- judgement call
- good/poor/sound judgement
- against my better judgement
Origin of judgement
From Etymonline:
Mid-13c., jugement, “action of trying at law, trial,” also “capacity for making decisions,” from Old French jugement “legal judgment; diagnosis; the Last Judgment”
Learn more about US English vs. UK English
- Which is it: “Favorite” or “Favourite”?
- Is it Spelled Metre or Meter?
- Which is Correct: Honour or Honor?
- Is it “Behaviour” or “Behavior”?
- Is it “Labour” or “Labor”?
- Color or Colour (Which is Correct?)
- Favour or Favor (Which is Correct?)
Sources
- Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of judgement.” Online Etymology Dictionary Accessed 13 February, 2024.
- Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, judgement.
Work Sheet
In standard US English, what is the preferred spelling of the noun meaning “to form an opinion”?
In standard UK English, outside of legal contexts, what is the preferred spelling of the noun?
According to the post, which spelling is recommended in legal contexts, even in UK English?
What is the correct spelling of the adjective form derived from “judgment/judgement”?
The post indicates the main difference between “judgment” and “judgement” spellings depends on:
Against my better , I agreed to help them.
Her of character was surprisingly accurate.
The court’s was based on procedural issues.
His harsh attitude alienated many.
It’s not something I can give you rules for; you’ll have to use your own .
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main spelling difference?
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When do you use judgement?
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When do you use judgment?
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Is there a legal context rule?
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How do you spell the adjective form?
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Yash, D. "How to Spell “Judgement”? (Judgement or Judgment?)." Grammarflex, Jun 20, 2025, https://www.grammarflex.com/how-to-spell-judgement-judgement-or-judgment/.
