justify

[ juhs-tuh-fahy ]

/ ˈdʒʌs təˌfaɪ /

verb (used with object), jus·ti·fied, jus·ti·fy·ing.

to show (an act, claim, statement, etc.) to be just or right: The end does not always justify the means.

to defend or uphold as warranted or well-grounded: Don't try to justify his rudeness.

Theology. to declare innocent or guiltless; absolve; acquit.

Printing.

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.
to level and square (a strike).

verb (used without object), jus·ti·fied, jus·ti·fy·ing.

Law.

to show a satisfactory reason or excuse for something done.
to qualify as bail or surety.

Printing. (of a line of type) to fit exactly into a desired length.

Nearby words

justification, justification by grace, through faith, justification by works, justificatory, justified, justify, justify the ways of god to men, to, justin, justin martyr, justin martyr, saint, justine

Origin of justify

1250–1300; Middle English justifien < Old French justifier < Late Latin jūstificāre, equivalent to Latin jūsti- (combining form of jūstus just¹) + -ficāre -fy

SYNONYMS FOR justify

1 vindicate; validate.

2 excuse.

Related forms

jus·ti·fi·er, nounjus·ti·fy·ing·ly, adverbhalf-jus·ti·fied, adjectivepre·jus·ti·fy, verb (used with object), pre·jus·ti·fied, pre·jus·ti·fy·ing.

re·jus·ti·fy, verb (used with object), re·jus·ti·fied, re·jus·ti·fy·ing.un·jus·ti·fied, adjectivewell-jus·ti·fied, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for justifies

There is no such thing as speech so hateful or offensive it somehow “justifies” or “legitimizes” the use of violence.
Trolls and Martyrdom: Je Ne Suis Pas Charlie|Arthur Chu|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But AM-2 is not a friend to the agility that justifies the F-35B over other forms of expeditionary airpower.
Why Can’t America’s Newest Stealth Jet Land Like It’s Supposed To?|Bill Sweetman|May 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He justifies this controversial predilection by explaining, "Drakkar reminds me of me, and I love me."
Why Women Want Hollywood Lothario Wilmer Valderrama|Amy Zimmerman|April 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If you are onto a truly great story, it justifies nearly any expense and every vice.
Tom Reiss: How I Write|Noah Charney|August 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST

We should know that the term Amalek is bad not just because of whom it targets, but because of the violence it justifies.
What Happens When We Call People 'Amalek'|Zack Parker|July 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Nor is there anything now to be gathered from the traditions at Vienna which justifies the epithet.
The Life of Ludwig van Beethoven, Volume I (of 3)|Alexander Wheelock Thayer
The whole tenor of your conduct to me justifies this course of proceeding on my part.
Yankee Ships and Yankee Sailors: Tales of 1812|James Barnes
And then the best of it all is that Mr. Gladstone justifies his speech-making by improving every hour.
Sketches In The House (1893)|T. P. O'Connor
Just, beyond all my terrified conscience could picture him, he justifies me the sinner.
Chronicles of the Schonberg-Cotta Family|Elizabeth Rundle Charles
What justifies itself is what is good, what is as it ought to be.
Three Philosophical Poets|George Santayana

British Dictionary definitions for justifies

justify

/ (ˈdʒʌstɪˌfaɪ) /

verb -fies, -fying or -fied (mainly tr)

(often passive) to prove or see to be just or valid; vindicatehe was certainly justified in taking the money

to show to be reasonable; warrant or substantiatehis behaviour justifies our suspicion

to declare or show to be free from blame or guilt; absolve

law

to show good reason in court for (some action taken)
to show adequate grounds for doing (that with which a person is charged)to justify a libel

(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

Protestant theol to account or declare righteous by the imputation of Christ's merits to the sinner
RC theol to change from sinfulness to righteousness by the transforming effects of grace

(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

Derived Formsjustifier, noun

Word Origin for justify

C14: from Old French justifier, from Latin justificāre, from jūstus just + facere to make

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 justifies

justify

c.1300, "to administer justice;" late 14c., "to show (something) to be just or right," from Old French justifiier "submit to court proceedings" (12c.), from Latin iustificare "act justly toward, make just," from iustificus "dealing justly, righteous," from iustus "just" (see just (adj.)) + root of facere "to do" (see factitious). Of circumstances, "to afford justification," from 1630s. Meaning "to make exact" (now largely restricted to typesetting) is from 1550s. Related: Justified; justifying.

justify

verb (used with object), jus·ti·fied, jus·ti·fy·ing.

verb (used without object), jus·ti·fied, jus·ti·fy·ing.

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Nearby words

Origin of justify

Examples from the Web for justifies

British Dictionary definitions for justifies

justify

verb -fies, -fying or -fied (mainly tr)

Word Origin for justify

Word Origin and History for justifies

justify