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View synonyms for

justify

[ juhs-tuh-fahy ]

verb (used with object)

justified, justifying.
  1. to show (an act, claim, statement, etc.) to be just or right:

    The end does not always justify the means.

    Synonyms: ,

  2. to defend or uphold as warranted or well-grounded:

    Don't try to justify his rudeness.

    Synonyms:

  3. Theology. to declare innocent or guiltless; absolve; acquit
  4. Printing.
    1. to make (a line of type) a desired length by spacing the words and letters, especially so that full lines in a column have even margins both on the left and on the right.
    2. to level and square (a strike).


verb (used without object)

justified, justifying.
  1. Law.
    1. to show a satisfactory reason or excuse for something done.
    2. to qualify as bail or surety.
  2. Printing. (of a line of type) to fit exactly into a desired length.

justify

/ ˈʌɪˌڲɪ /

verb

  1. often passive to prove or see to be just or valid; vindicate

    he was certainly justified in taking the money

  2. to show to be reasonable; warrant or substantiate

    his behaviour justifies our suspicion

  3. to declare or show to be free from blame or guilt; absolve
  4. law
    1. to show good reason in court for (some action taken)
    2. to show adequate grounds for doing (that with which a person is charged)

      to justify a libel

  5. also intr printing computing to adjust the spaces between words in (a line of type or data) so that it is of the required length or (of a line of type or data) to fit exactly
    1. Protestant theol to account or declare righteous by the imputation of Christ's merits to the sinner
    2. RC theol to change from sinfulness to righteousness by the transforming effects of grace
  6. also intr law to prove (a person) to have sufficient means to act as surety, etc, or (of a person) to qualify to provide bail or surety
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈܲپˌھ, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • ܲ·پ·ھ· noun
  • ܲ·پ·ڲ·Բ· adverb
  • ·ܲ·پ·ڲ verb (used with object) prejustified prejustifying
  • ·ܲ·پ·ڲ verb (used with object) rejustified rejustifying
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Word History and Origins

Origin of justify1

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English justifien, from Old French justifier, from Late Latin ūپھ, equivalent to Latin ūپ- (combining form of ūٳܲ just 1 ) + -fy
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Word History and Origins

Origin of justify1

C14: from Old French justifier, from Latin ܲپھ, from ūٳܲ just + facere to make
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Lauren’s celebrity and the circumstances of the shooting have sparked debate about whether she was justified to defend her property.

From

She added that she was satisfied Kelly was the one who pulled the trigger but concluded that a life sentence for Kelly was "not justified".

From

On Wednesday, he told Bauer’s attorneys they had not justified their fees.

From

But for Lissu, the local elections justified his calls for reforms ahead of the presidential and parliamentary polls.

From

The Party has been appealing to nationalist sentiments to justify its retaliatory tariffs, with state media calling on people to "weather storms together".

From

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