self-justification

American  

[self-juhs-tuh-fi-key-shuhn, self-] / ˈsɛlfˌdʒʌs tə fɪˈkeɪ ʃən, ˌsɛlf- /

noun

1. the act or fact of justifying oneself, especially of offering excessive reasons, explanations, excuses, etc., for an act, thought, or the like.

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self-justification British  

noun

1. the act or an instance of justifying or providing excuses for one's own behaviour, etc

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Etymology

Origin of self-justification

First recorded in 1765–75

Example Sentences

During his time in prison he was visited by his two-year-old daughter, whose arrival had given him the motivation, or perhaps self-justification, to turn to the fixers in the first place.

From BBC • Sep. 9, 2024

While Herschel isn’t really learning from each new mistake for much of the book, his interior searching gives Lipstein a chance to offer up thought-provoking commentary, even when it feels like self-justification.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 14, 2023

“I gave up my working brain for you,” she tells Keld, who responds with a classic anthem of weaselly self-justification.

From New York Times • Nov. 24, 2022

Caleb narrates this novel in a voice that braids confession and self-justification into tight knots.

From Washington Post • Jan. 18, 2022

‘Elitist’ is an overused word, tinged with resentment, but in describing serialist self-justification of the twentieth century it is spot on.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall