justify

verb (justifies, justifying, justified)

• 1show or prove to be right or reasonable:the person appointed has fully justified our confidence
• be a good reason for:the situation was grave enough to justify further investigation

• 2 Theology declare or make righteous in the sight of God: one of the elect, justified by faith

• 3 Printing adjust (a line of type or piece of text) so that the print fills a space evenly or forms a straight edge at the margin: in most European languages you justify text by adding space between letters and words