justify
[juhs-tuh-fahy]
- 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).
Show More
- 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.
Show More
Origin of justify
Synonyms
See more synonyms for justify on Thesaurus.com1. vindicate; validate. 2. excuse.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for justifies
Contemporary Examples
There is no such thing as speech so hateful or offensive it somehow “justifies” or “legitimizes” the use of violence.
But AM-2 is not a friend to the agility that justifies the F-35B over other forms of expeditionary airpower.
He justifies this controversial predilection by explaining, "Drakkar reminds me of me, and I love me."
If you are onto a truly great story, it justifies nearly any expense and every vice.
We should know that the term Amalek is bad not just because of whom it targets, but because of the violence it justifies.
Historical Examples
There is nothing in the fragments of Heracleitus which at all justifies Plato's account of him.
TheaetetusPlato
What is there in my character, in my life, that justifies it?
The ChristianHall Caine
Moreover, the merchant by specious reasoning often justifies his own conduct.
The Negro FarmerCarl Kelsey
This justifies the most special researches and the most futile in all appearance.
Introduction to the Study of HistoryCharles V. Langlois
D'you say that justifies me in shedding the blood of my boss?
The Foundations (Fourth Series Plays)John Galsworthy
justify
- (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 theolto account or declare righteous by the imputation of Christ's merits to the sinner
- RC theolto 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
Show More
Word Origin
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
v.
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.
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper