justice
[juhs-tis]
- the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness: to uphold the justice of a cause.
- rightfulness or lawfulness, as of a claim or title; justness of ground or reason: to complain with justice.
- the moral principle determining just conduct.
- conformity to this principle, as manifested in conduct; just conduct, dealing, or treatment.
- the administering of deserved punishment or reward.
- the maintenance or administration of what is just by law, as by judicial or other proceedings: a court of justice.
- judgment of persons or causes by judicial process: to administer justice in a community.
- a judicial officer; a judge or magistrate.
- (initial capital letter) Also called Justice Department. the Department of Justice.
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- bring to justice, to cause to come before a court for trial or to receive punishment for one's misdeeds: The murderer was brought to justice.
- do justice,
- to act or treat justly or fairly.
- to appreciate properly: We must see this play again to do it justice.
- to acquit in accordance with one's abilities or potentialities: He finally got a role in which he could do himself justice as an actor.
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Origin of justice
Justice
[juhs-tis]
- Donald,1925–2004, U.S. poet.
- a town in NE Illinois.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
righthonestyauthoritytruthlawintegrityjudgecourtchartercodesentencecorrectionjustnesshearingredresssanctionlitigationdecreereviewimpartialityExamples from the Web for justice
Contemporary Examples
He could order the Justice Department to begin the necessary regulatory work.
I suffer from no delusion that the justice system treats black and white equally.
We separate the search for justice from the search for truth at our peril.
Almost immediately, another group active at the protests called the Justice League snitches.
De Blasio and the New York City Protesters Have No Blood on Their HandsJacob Siegel
December 22, 2014
"We're not anti-police, we're anti-police brutality," a member of the Justice League told the crowd, to cheers.
Historical Examples
That you will take tea with us to-morrow evening, and help us do justice to them.
Brave and BoldHoratio Alger
My object in calling upon him was to induce him to do me justice at last.
Brave and BoldHoratio Alger
We did justice to the supper, as we had not had anything to eat for thirty-two hours.
Explorations in AustraliaJohn Forrest
To do him justice, he would have done almost as much for them,—for any of them.
MalboneThomas Wentworth Higginson
They have claims on the magnanimity and, I may add, on the justice of this nation which we must all feel.
justice
- the quality or fact of being just
- ethics
- the principle of fairness that like cases should be treated alike
- a particular distribution of benefits and burdens fairly in accordance with a particular conception of what are to count as like cases
- the principle that punishment should be proportionate to the offence
- the administration of law according to prescribed and accepted principles
- conformity to the law; legal validity
- a judge of the Supreme Court of Judicature
- short for justice of the peace
- good reason (esp in the phrase with justice)he was disgusted by their behaviour, and with justice
- do justice to
- to show to full advantagethe picture did justice to her beauty
- to show full appreciation of by actionhe did justice to the meal
- to treat or judge fairly
- do oneself justice to make full use of one's abilities
- bring to justice to capture, try, and usually punish (a criminal, an outlaw, etc)
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Word Origin
C12: from Old French, from Latin jūstitia, from justus just
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
Word Origin and History for justice
n.
mid-12c., "the exercise of authority in vindication of right by assigning reward or punishment;" also "quality of being fair and just," from Old French justice "justice, legal rights, jurisdiction" (11c.), from Latin iustitia "righteousness, equity," from iustus "upright, just" (see just (adj.)). The Old French word had widespread senses, including "uprightness, equity, vindication of right, court of justice, judge." The word began to be used in English c.1200 as a title for a judicial officer. Meaning "right order, equity" is late 14c. Justice of the peace first attested early 14c. In the Mercian hymns, Latin iustitia is glossed by Old English rehtwisnisse. To do justice to (someone or something) "render fully and fairly showing due appreciation" is from 1670s.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Justice
A figure in painting and sculpture that symbolizes the impartiality of true justice. The figure of Justice usually appears as a blindfolded woman with a scale in one hand and a sword in the other.
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The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Idioms and Phrases with justice
justice
see do justice to; miscarriage of justice; poetic justice.
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.