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.
Victims of rape and sexual assault have the right to the evidence they need to seek justice.
just treatment of all members of society with regard to a specified public issue, including equitable distribution of resources and participation in decision-making (usually used in combination).
Environmental justice means that all people, regardless of race or income, have the right to a clean and healthy environment.
A group of moms in the Bridgeton area are advocating for health justice for those living around the landfills.
When we speak of climate justice, we demonstrate our sensitivity and resolve to secure the future of poor people from the perils of natural disasters.
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 judge on a higher court, especially a Supreme Court.
the nine justices on the U.S. Supreme Court.
a minor judicial officer or magistrate.
Also called Justice Department. Justice. the Department of Justice.
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 potential.
He finally got a role in which he could do himself justice as an actor.
Donald, 1925–2004, U.S. poet.
a town in NE Illinois.
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
to show to full advantage
the picture did justice to her beauty
to show full appreciation of by action
he did justice to the meal
to treat or judge fairly
to make full use of one's abilities
to capture, try, and usually punish (a criminal, an outlaw, etc)
First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin jūstitia, equivalent to jūst(us) just 1 + -itia -ice
Justice is the quality of being just or fair. Super heroes fight for justice because they want everything to be fair and not let bad guys win. Just ask Wonder Woman, Superman, or any other member of the Justice League. Justice is usually associated with the law. A judge is also known as a justice, and the point of the law is to keep everything in a society fair according to society’s rules. Justice (capital “J”) is also the statue of a blindfolded woman holding scales and a sword. If something is brought to justice, the good guys have been rewarded and the bad guys punished — the scales are even.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That is, what powers does a single justice have?
From Slate ● Jul. 29, 2026
"Every time allegations were made, investigations were opened and those involved in crimes were brought to justice."
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
The letter from Michael Morris, senior general counsel in litigation at Canada’s justice department, marked another retreat from the Carney-led government.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
“We will continue to pursue justice for Ms. Caprioli and everyone who loved her.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
She had complained that she joined the organization to do social justice work, not to be a travel agent.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
Wasserman put the agency up for sale in February, following the Justice Department’s release of documents showing flirtatious emails between him and Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell in 2003.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
Before landing her dream gig in the Ministry of Justice, she says the search to find work "took a lot of resilience".
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
The Justice Department attorney told Frimpong that no personal phones had been imaged at that point, despite the fact that more than 800 officers indicated that they had used their personal phones during operations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
Lithwick: In re Turner was decided in 1867 by then–Chief Justice of the United States Salmon Chase.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
Justice Edmonds’s handkerchief was taken out of his pocket, tied in knots and put back.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
