justify

UK: /ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪ/ US: /ˈdʒʌstəˌfaɪ/ ,( jus′tə fī′)

Inflections of 'justify' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

justifies

v 3rd person singular

justifying

v pres p

justified

v past

justified

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

jus•ti•fy /ˈdʒʌstəˌfaɪ/   v. [~ + object] , -fied, -fy•ing. 

1. to show or prove to be just, right, or reasonable:
   The pleasure these paintings give justifies their high cost.
2. to defend as permitted or allowable:
   I can't justify my actions.
3. Printing to space out words or characters in (lines of type) to produce an even margin.

See -jus-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

jus•ti•fy  ( jus′tə fī′), v., -fied, -fy•ing. 
v.t. 

1. to show (an act, claim, statement, etc.) to be just or right:
   The end does not always justify the means.
2. to defend or uphold as warranted or well-grounded:
   Don't try to justify his rudeness.
3. Religion [Theol.] to declare innocent or guiltless;
   absolve;
   acquit.
4. [Print.]
   • Printing to 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.
   • Printing to level and square (a strike).

v.i. 

5. Law
   • Law to show a satisfactory reason or excuse for something done.
   • to qualify as bail or surety.
6. 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•fi′er, n. 
jus′ti•fy′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. vindicate; validate.
• 2. excuse.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

justify / ˈdʒʌstɪˌfaɪ/ verb ( -fies, -fying, -fied)(mainly tr)

1. (often passive) to prove or see to be just or valid; vindicate
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. to show good reason in court for (some action taken)
5. (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
6. to account or declare righteous by the imputation of Christ's merits to the sinner
7. to change from sinfulness to righteousness by the transforming effects of grace
8. (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

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French justifier, from Latin justificāre, from jūstus just + facere to make

ˈjustiˌfier noun