Definitions for justify
ˈdʒʌs təˌfaɪjus·ti·fy

Princeton's WordNet(4.44 / 16 votes)Rate this definition:

1. justify, warrantverb

   show to be reasonable or provide adequate ground for

   "The emergency does not warrant all of us buying guns"; "The end justifies the means"

2. justify, vindicateverb

   show to be right by providing justification or proof

   "vindicate a claim"

3. apologize, apologise, excuse, justify, rationalize, rationaliseverb

   defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning

   "rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior"; "he rationalized his lack of success"

4. absolve, justify, freeverb

   let off the hook

   "I absolve you from this responsibility"

5. justifyverb

   adjust the spaces between words

   "justify the margins"

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. justifyverb

   To provide an acceptable explanation for.

   Etymology: From justificare, from justus, iustus, + ficare, from facere.

2. justifyverb

   To be a good, acceptable reason for; warrant.

   Nothing can justify your rude behaviour last night.

   Etymology: From justificare, from justus, iustus, + ficare, from facere.

3. justifyverb

   To arrange (text) on a page or a computer screen such that the left and right ends of all lines within paragraphs are aligned.

   The text will look better justified.

   Etymology: From justificare, from justus, iustus, + ficare, from facere.

4. justifyverb

   To absolve, and declare to be free of blame or sin

   Etymology: From justificare, from justus, iustus, + ficare, from facere.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Justifyadjective

   to prove or show to be just; to vindicate; to maintain or defend as conformable to law, right, justice, propriety, or duty

2. Justifyadjective

   to pronounce free from guilt or blame; to declare or prove to have done that which is just, right, proper, etc.; to absolve; to exonerate; to clear

3. Justifyadjective

   to treat as if righteous and just; to pardon; to exculpate; to absolve

4. Justifyadjective

   to prove; to ratify; to confirm

5. Justifyadjective

   to make even or true, as lines of type, by proper spacing; to adjust, as type. See Justification, 4

6. Justifyverb

   to form an even surface or true line with something else; to fit exactly

7. Justifyverb

   to take oath to the ownership of property sufficient to qualify one's self as bail or surety

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Justify

   jus′ti-fī, v.t. to make just: to prove or show to be just or right: to vindicate: to absolve:—pr.p. jus′tifying; pa.p. jus′tified.—adj. Justifī′able, that may be justified or defended.—n. Justifī′ableness.—adv. Justifī′ably.—n. Justificā′tion, vindication: absolution: a plea of sufficient reason for.—adjs. Jus′tificātive, Jus′tificātory, having power to justify.—n. Jus′tifier, one who defends, or vindicates: he who pardons and absolves from guilt and punishment.—Justification by faith, the doctrine that men are justified by faith in Christ. [Fr.,—L. justificāre—justus, just, facĕre, to make.]

Matched Categories

1. • Adjust
   • Printing
   • Uphold

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'justify' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #4473

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'justify' in Written Corpus Frequency: #4377

3. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'justify' in Verbs Frequency: #429

How to pronounce justify?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say justify in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of justify in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of justify in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Examples of justify in a Sentence

1. Patrick Cottrell:

   I don't know how they could get away with those things, i don't know how you justify that in your head, as chief, as mayor.

2. Graham Smith:

   If even one school or hospital is facing cuts we cannot justify spending a penny on the royals, yet with all public services under intense financial pressure we throw 2.4 million pounds at a new house for Harry.

3. Jason Torchinsky:

   They don't need to redo the entire administrative process, they just need to better justify what they did, in a way that can satisfy the Supreme Court.

4. Michele Parkinson:

   My husband was all excited about the new Apple watch, but couldn't justify a reason to purchase it since he owned three watches, i am convinced that he and Mocha joined forces here to destroy all of his current watches in order to make room for Apple's new watch.

5. Hannah Brown:

   I think theres always when youre hurt, because hes hurt too, you want to justify things, and maybe that was just a way for him to see it in an way that explains some of his hurt, but you know, I think we all know what show we were on, and my dating relationships were very out in the open and everybody knew what they were a part of.

Popularity rank by frequency of use