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justify

Syllabification: (jus·ti·fy)
Pronunciation: /ˈjəstəˌfī/

Translate justify | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of justify

verb (justifies, justifying, justified)

[with object]
  • 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.
  • 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 one or both margins.

Derivatives

justificatory

Pronunciation: /jəˈstifəkəˌtôrē, ˌjəstəfiˈkātôrē/

adjective

justifier

noun

Origin:

Middle English (in the senses 'administer justice to' and 'inflict a judicial penalty on'): from Old French justifier, from Christian Latin justificare 'do justice to', from Latin justus (see just)

Spelling help

Remember that the ending of justify is spelled -ify.

justify in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of justify in the British & World English dictionary

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