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judicious
/dʒuːˈdɪʃəs/
showing good judgment
The judge made a judicious decision after carefully considering all the evidence.
The judge made a wise and sensible decision after thoroughly evaluating all the evidence.
formal
Having, showing, or done with good judgment or sense.
She offered judicious advice on how to invest their savings.
She gave sensible and well-considered advice about investing their money.
The committee's judicious use of resources ensured the project's success.
The committee wisely managed their resources to ensure the project succeeded.
Often used to describe decisions, actions, or advice that are thoughtful and well-reasoned.
Collocations
judicious choicea wise decisionjudicious use ofwise or careful use ofjudicious decisiona sensible decision
Pro Tip
Avoid overusing 'judicious'
While 'judicious' is a strong word, it can sound overly formal or pretentious in casual conversation. Use synonyms like 'wise' or 'prudent' in everyday speech.
Gold Rule
Use 'judicious' for actions, not people
Prefer phrases like 'a judicious decision' or 'judicious use of resources' rather than 'a judicious person.' The word describes the quality of an action or choice.
Word Origin
From Latin *iudicium* meaning 'judgment,' derived from *iudex* 'judge,' combining *iūs* 'law' and *dicere* 'to say.' Entered English in the late 16th century.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in formal contexts to describe actions or decisions that are carefully considered and likely to be effective. Avoid using it to describe people directly (e.g., not 'She is judicious' in casual speech; instead, 'She made a judicious choice').
Word Breakdown
judic-
related to judgment or law (from Latin *iudicium*)
root-ous
adjective-forming suffix indicating 'full of' or 'having the quality of'
suffixEnglish Dictionary