JUSTIFY
Word of the Week
JUSTIFY
jus·ti·fy
verb \ˈjəs-tə-ˌfī\
: to provide or be a good reason for (something)
: to prove or show (something) to be just, right, or reasonable
: to provide a good reason for the actions of (someone)
: to position (text) so that the edges form a straight line
jus·ti·fied
jus·ti·fy·ing
Full Definition of JUSTIFY
transitive verb
1 a : to prove or show to be just, right, or reasonable
b (1) : to show to have had a sufficient legal reason
(2) : to qualify (oneself) as a surety by taking oath to the ownership of sufficient
property
2 a archaic : to administer justice to
b archaic : absolve
3 a : to space (as lines of text) so that the lines come out even at the margin
b : to make even by justifying <justified margins>
intransitive verb
1 a : to show a sufficient lawful reason for an act done
b : to qualify as bail or surety
2 : to justify lines of text
— jus·ti·fi·er \-ˌfī(-ə)r\ noun
Examples of JUSTIFY
- He tried to justify his behavior by saying that he was being pressured unfairly by his boss.
- The fact that we are at war does not justify treating innocent people as criminals.
Related to JUSTIFY
Synonyms
Related Words
account (for), alibi, explain, explain away, rationalize; brush (aside or off), condone, disregard, forgive, gloss (over), gloze (over), ignore, pardon, pass over, remit, shrug off, wink (at)
Near Antonyms
abandon, abjure, forsake, recant, retract, take back, withdraw; reverse, switch; controvert, disprove, rebut, refute