Justify

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈdÊ’ÊŒstɪfaɪ/

Alternative forms

• justifie obsolete

Origin

From Latin justificare ("make just"), from justus, iustus ("just"), + to make, from facere.

just + -ify

Full definition of justify

Verb

1. (transitive) To provide an acceptable explanation for.How can you justify spending so much money on clothes?Paying too much for car insurance is not justified.
2. (transitive) To be a good, acceptable reason for; warrant.Nothing can justify your rude behaviour last night.
• E. EverettUnless the oppression is so extreme as to justify revolution, it would not justify the evil of breaking up a government.
3. (transitive) To arrange (text) on a page or a computer screen such that the left and right ends of all lines within paragraphs are aligned.The text will look better justified.
4. (transitive) To absolve, and declare to be free of blame or sin
• ShakespeareI cannot justify whom the law condemns.
• Bible, Acts xiii. 39By him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
5. To prove; to ratify; to confirm.

Related terms

• -fy
• just
• justification
• justifiable
• justifiably
• unjustified