justify

[ juhs-tuh-fahy ]

/ ˈdʒʌs təˌfaɪ /

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.

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).

verb (used without object), jus·ti·fied, jus·ti·fy·ing.

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.

Origin of justify

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

SYNONYMS FOR justify

1 vindicate; validate.

2 excuse.

OTHER WORDS FROM justify

jus·ti·fi·er, noun jus·ti·fy·ing·ly, adverb half-jus·ti·fied, adjective pre·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. un·jus·ti·fied, adjective well-jus·ti·fied, adjective

Words nearby justify

justifiable homicide, justification, justification by grace, through faith, justification by works, justificatory, justify, justify the ways of god to men, to, justin, justin martyr, justine, justinian code

Example sentences from the Web for well-justified

These books were very popular at a time when a well-justified prejudice against novels prevailed.

A History of English Prose Fiction |Bayard Tuckerman
He had such a well-justified good repute as an oculist that many travelled across the seas to seek his aid.

The Philippine Islands |John Foreman
They would see how well-justified was the authority, how needful the severity with which he writes.

The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Galatians |G. G. Findlay
Along the railways and main county roads the farmers show a well-justified mistrust about admitting company for the night.

Our Southern Highlanders |Horace Kephart

British Dictionary definitions for well-justified (1 of 2)

well-justified

adjective (well justified when postpositive)

having been shown, proved, or validated satisfactorily

British Dictionary definitions for well-justified (2 of 2)

justify

/ (ˈdʒʌstɪˌfaɪ) /

verb -fies, -fying or -fied (mainly tr)

(often passive) to prove or see to be just or valid; vindicate he was certainly justified in taking the money

to show to be reasonable; warrant or substantiate his 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 theol to account or declare righteous by the imputation of Christ's merits to the sinner
RC theol to 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

Derived forms of justify

justifier, noun

Word Origin for justify

C14: from Old French justifier, from Latin justificāre, from jūstus just + facere to make

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

justify

verb (used with object), jus·ti·fied, jus·ti·fy·ing.

verb (used without object), jus·ti·fied, jus·ti·fy·ing.

Origin of justify

SYNONYMS FOR justify

OTHER WORDS FROM justify

Words nearby justify

Example sentences from the Web for well-justified

British Dictionary definitions for well-justified (1 of 2)

adjective (well justified when postpositive)

British Dictionary definitions for well-justified (2 of 2)

verb -fies, -fying or -fied (mainly tr)

Derived forms of justify

Word Origin for justify

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

justify

verb (used with object), jus·ti·fied, jus·ti·fy·ing.

verb (used without object), jus·ti·fied, jus·ti·fy·ing.

Origin of justify

SYNONYMS FOR justify

OTHER WORDS FROM justify

Words nearby justify

Example sentences from the Web for well-justified

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for well-justified (1 of 2)

adjective (well justified when postpositive)

British Dictionary definitions for well-justified (2 of 2)

verb -fies, -fying or -fied (mainly tr)

Derived forms of justify

Word Origin for justify

British Dictionary definitions for well-justified (1 of 2)