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justify

[ juhs-tuh-fahy ]
/ ˈdʒʌs təˌfaɪ /
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See synonyms for: justify / justified / justifying on Thesaurus.com
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.
  1. 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.
  2. to level and square (a strike).
verb (used without object), jus·ti·fied, jus·ti·fy·ing.
Law.
  1. to show a satisfactory reason or excuse for something done.
  2. to qualify as bail or surety.
Printing. (of a line of type) to fit exactly into a desired length.
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The rainy weather could not ________ my elated spirits on my graduation day.
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effect
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Origin of justify

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

OTHER WORDS FROM justify

jus·ti·fi·er, nounjus·ti·fy·ing·ly, adverbpre·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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

Words related to justify

advocate, condone, confirm, countenance, defend, explain, favor, maintain, rationalize, support, sustain, uphold, validate, vindicate, warrant, absolve, acquit, alibi, approve, assert

British Dictionary definitions for justify

justify
/ (ˈdʒʌstɪˌfaɪ) /
verb -fies, -fying or -fied (mainly tr)

Derived forms of justify

justifier, 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
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