51Թ

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View synonyms for

justify

[juhs-tuh-fahy]

verb (used with object)

justified, justifying 
  1. to show (an act, claim, statement, etc.) to be just or right.

    The end does not always justify the means.

    Synonyms: ,
  2. to defend or uphold as warranted or well-grounded.

    Don't try to justify his rudeness.

    Synonyms:
  3. Theology.to declare innocent or guiltless; absolve; acquit

  4. 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)

justified, justifying 
  1. Law.

    1. to show a satisfactory reason or excuse for something done.

    2. to qualify as bail or surety.

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

justify

/ ˈʌɪˌڲɪ /

verb

  1. (often passive) to prove or see to be just or valid; vindicate

    he was certainly justified in taking the money

  2. to show to be reasonable; warrant or substantiate

    his behaviour justifies our suspicion

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

  4. law

    1. to show good reason in court for (some action taken)

    2. to show adequate grounds for doing (that with which a person is charged)

      to justify a libel

  5. (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

    1. Protestant theol to account or declare righteous by the imputation of Christ's merits to the sinner

    2. RC theol to change from sinfulness to righteousness by the transforming effects of grace

  6. (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

“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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Other 51Թ Forms

  • justifier noun
  • justifyingly adverb
  • prejustify verb (used with object)
  • rejustify verb (used with object)
  • ˈܲپˌھ noun
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of justify1

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English justifien, from Old French justifier, from Late Latin ūپھ, equivalent to Latin ūپ- (combining form of ūٳܲ just 1 ) + -fy
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of justify1

C14: from Old French justifier, from Latin ܲپھ, from ūٳܲ just + facere to make
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

In an America that has long weaponized descriptions of how men of color look and move to justify use of force, that is especially true of dark men lunging at white women.

From

These kidnappings have been targeted in areas run by the president's political opponents and rely on openly confrontational tactics designed to produce a backlash in order to justify militarizing American cities.

From

Really, Song wants to know whether a sensible girl can justify shackling herself to a broke creative.

From

Brown man allegedly lunging is the new Black man driving — scary enough that any response is justified.

From

In a vicious cycle, colonizers or imperial powers justify their borders and walls in the name of “security” while protecting themselves from those desperate to escape their domination.

From

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