social justice

American  

[soh-shuhl juhs-tis] / ˈsoʊ ʃəl ˈdʒʌs tɪs /

noun

1. fair treatment of all people in a society, including respect for the rights of minorities and equitable distribution of resources among members of a community.

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Etymology

Origin of social justice

First recorded in 1825–30

Example Sentences

Pope Leo XIV heads to Spain on Saturday for a visit focused on immigration and social justice at a politically turbulent time for Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

From Barron's • Jun. 6, 2026

Shirley-Anne Somerville has held onto the social justice brief, while also taking up the housing role.

From BBC • May 20, 2026

Fox also had his own spreadsheet, built around a Control-F search for terms like tribal, immigrants, diversity, inclusion, Indigenous, Native, equity, equality, marginalized, BIPOC, solidarity, citizenship, melting pot, social justice, and gay.

From Slate • May 14, 2026

“I write Avery Keene novels to tell stories about social justice, but I put it in a form that’s accessible to people who don’t think that they are social justice people,” Abrams said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2026

The Jesuits are widely known for their focus on social justice and human rights, as well as a devotion to theology, missionary work, and education.

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly