Verdict

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman “verdit,” from Latin “vere dictum” — “truly said” — combining “verus” (true, as in “verify”) and “dictum” (a thing spoken). A verdict is, etymologically, the truth as spoken by the jury.

noun · /VUR-dikt/
The jury’s formal finding on the factual questions of a case — chiefly guilt or liability.
What it names
The precise term for what a jury decides, as opposed to what a judge then does about it — reach for it when accuracy matters more than the loose “ruling.”
Example
The jury delivered a guilty verdict, but sentencing was set for a separate hearing weeks later.
Related idea
A verdict is the jury’s finding of fact; a judgment is the court’s final official decision that follows — the judge can even set a verdict aside and enter a different judgment.