- (often passive)
to prove or see to be just or valid; vindicate 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 to show good reason in court for (some action taken) - (also intr)
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 to account or declare righteous by the imputation of Christ's merits to the sinner to change from sinfulness to righteousness by the transforming effects of grace - (also intr)
to prove (a person) to have sufficient means to act as surety, etc, or (of a person) to qualify to provide bail or surety
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
jus•ti•fy /ˈdʒʌstəˌfaɪ/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], -fied, -fy•ing.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- to show or prove to be just, right, or reasonable:The pleasure these paintings give justifies their high cost.
- to defend as permitted or allowable:I can't justify my actions.
- Printingto space out words or characters in (lines of type) to produce an even margin.
jus•ti•fy
( jus′tə fī′),USA pronunciation v., -fied, -fy•ing.
v.t.
v.i.
jus′ti•fi′er, n.
jus′ti•fy′ing•ly, adv.
v.t.
- 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.
- Religion[Theol.]to declare innocent or guiltless;
absolve;
acquit. - [Print.]
- Printingto make (a line of type) a desired length by spacing the words and letters, esp. so that full lines in a column have even margins both on the left and on the right.
- Printingto level and square (a strike).
v.i.
- Law
- Lawto 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.
- Late Latin jūstificāre, equivalent. to Latin jūsti- (combining form of jūstus just1) + -ficāre -fy
- Old French justifier
- Middle English justifien 1250–1300
jus′ti•fy′ing•ly, adv.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged vindicate; validate.
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged excuse.
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