justify

jus·ti·fy

 (jŭs′tə-fī′)

tr.v. jus·ti·fied, jus·ti·fy·ing, jus·ti·fies

1. To demonstrate or prove to be just, right, or valid: justified each budgetary expense as necessary; anger that is justified by the circumstances.

2. To free (a human) of the guilt and penalty attached to grievous sin. Used of God.

3. Law

a. To demonstrate sufficient legal reason for (an action taken).

b. To prove to be qualified as a bondsman.

4. To format (a paragraph, for example) so that the lines of text begin and end evenly at a straight margin.

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[Middle English justifien, from Old French justifier, from Late Latin iūstificāre, from Latin, to act justly toward : iūstus, just; see just¹ + -ficāre, -fy.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

justify

(ˈdʒʌstɪˌfaɪ)

vb (mainly tr) , -fies, -fying or -fied

1. (often passive) to prove or see to be just or valid; vindicate: he was certainly justified in taking the money.

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. (Law) law

a. to show good reason in court for (some action taken)

b. to show adequate grounds for doing (that with which a person is charged): to justify a libel.

5. (Printing, Lithography & Bookbinding) (also intr) printing computing 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. (Theology)

a. Protestant theol to account or declare righteous by the imputation of Christ's merits to the sinner

b. RC theol to change from sinfulness to righteousness by the transforming effects of grace

7. (Law) (also intr) law to prove (a person) to have sufficient means to act as surety, etc, or (of a person) to qualify to provide bail or surety

[C14: from Old French justifier, from Latin justificāre, from jūstus just + facere to make]

ˈjustiˌfier n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

jus•ti•fy

(ˈdʒʌs təˌfaɪ)

v. -fied, -fy•ing. v.t.

1. to show or prove to be just, right, or reasonable: The pleasure we get from these paintings justifies their high cost.

2. to defend or uphold as warranted or well-grounded: Don't try to justify his rudeness.

3. to declare innocent or guiltless; absolve; acquit.

4. to space out words or characters in (one or more lines of type), esp. to produce an even margin.

v.i.

5.

a. to show that what was done was legally warranted.

b. to qualify as bail or surety.

6. (of a line of type) to fit exactly into a desired length.

[1250–1300; Middle English < Old French justifier < Late Latin jūstificāre= Latin jūsti-, comb. form of jūstus just¹ + -ficāre -fy]

jus′ti•fi`er, n.

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

justify

Past participle: justified
Gerund: justifying

Imperative

justify

justify

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

Thesaurus

Verb	1.	justify - show to be reasonable or provide adequate ground for; "The emergency does not warrant all of us buying guns"; "The end justifies the means" warrant reassert, confirm - strengthen or make more firm; "The witnesses confirmed the victim's account"
	2.	justify - show to be right by providing justification or proof; "vindicate a claim" vindicate excuse, explain - serve as a reason or cause or justification of; "Your need to sleep late does not excuse your late arrival at work"; "Her recent divorce may explain her reluctance to date again" uphold, maintain - support against an opponent; "The appellate court upheld the verdict" legitimate - show or affirm to be just and legitimate
	3.	justify - defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning; "rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior"; "he rationalized his lack of success" apologise, rationalize, rationalise, apologize, excuse colour, gloss, color - give a deceptive explanation or excuse for; "color a lie" plead - offer as an excuse or plea; "She was pleading insanity" defend, fend for, support - argue or speak in defense of; "She supported the motion to strike" extenuate, mitigate, palliate - lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of; "The circumstances extenuate the crime"
	4.	justify - let off the hook; "I absolve you from this responsibility" absolve, free let off, excuse, exempt, relieve - grant exemption or release to; "Please excuse me from this class" wash one's hands - to absolve oneself of responsibility or future blame; "I wash my hands of this" forgive - stop blaming or grant forgiveness; "I forgave him his infidelity"; "She cannot forgive him for forgetting her birthday"
	5.	justify - adjust the spaces between words; "justify the margins" printing - the business of producing printed material for sale or distribution adjust, correct, set - alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard; "Adjust the clock, please"; "correct the alignment of the front wheels"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

justify

verb explain, support, warrant, bear out, legitimize, establish, maintain, confirm, defend, approve, excuse, sustain, uphold, acquit, vindicate, validate, substantiate, exonerate, legalize, absolve, exculpate This decision was fully justified by economic conditions.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

justify

verb

1. To show to be just, right, or valid:

excuse, rationalize, vindicate.

Idiom: make a case for.

2. To be a proper or sufficient occasion for:

call for, occasion, warrant.

3. To assure the certainty or validity of:

attest, authenticate, back (up), bear out, confirm, corroborate, evidence, substantiate, testify (to), validate, verify, warrant.

4. To support against arguments, attack, or criticism:

apologize, defend, maintain, vindicate.

Idioms: speak up for, stand up for, stick up for.

5. To offer reasons for or a cause of:

account for, explain, rationalize.

The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Translations

يُبَرِّرُيُبَرِّر، يُسَوِّغيُبَرِّر، يُكَوِّن عُذْرا

ospravedlnitzarovnat

retfærdiggøreberettige

rechtfertigenausrichtenjustieren

δικαιολογώ

justificarlegitimar

oikeuttaaperustellatasata

justifiermotiverexcuser

opravdati

igazolindokol

réttlæta

giustificaregiustificazioneperdonarescusaregiustificabile

正当化する

정당화하다

pateisinamaspateisinimas

attaisnot

rechtvaardigenuitlijnen

rettferdiggjøregi rett til å

usprawiedliwić

justificar

обосновывать

zagovarjatizagovarjati se

motivera

พิสูจน์ว่าถูกต้อง

geçerli bir nedeni olmakhaklı göstermek/çıkarmakhaklılığını göstermek

giải thích

为...辩护论证证明...是正当的

justify

[ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪ] VT

1. (gen) → justificar
he tried to justify his decision → trató de justificar su decisión
the future does not justify the slightest optimism → el futuro no da lugar al más leve optimismo

2. (Typ, Comput) → alinear, justificar

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

justify

[ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪ] vt [+ action, decision] → justifier
to justify o.s. → se justifier

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

justify

vt

(= show to be right) → rechtfertigen, verteidigen (sth to sb etw vor jdm or jdm gegenüber); you don’t need to justify yourself → Sie brauchen sich nicht zu rechtfertigen or verteidigen; don’t try to justify your action → versuchen Sie nicht, Ihre Tat zu entschuldigen or zu verteidigen; am I justified in believing that …? → glaube ich zu Recht, dass …?

(= be good reason for) → rechtfertigen, ein Grund sein für; the future could hardly be said to justify great optimism → die Zukunft berechtigt wohl kaum zu großem Optimismus; this does not justify his being late → das ist kein Grund für sein Zuspätkommen; he was justified in doing that → es war gerechtfertigt, dass er das tat; you’re not justified in talking to her like that → Sie haben kein Recht, so mit ihr zu reden

(Typ) → justieren; (Comput) → ausrichten; right/left justified → rechts-/linksbündig

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

justify

[ˈdʒʌstɪˌfaɪ] vt (behaviour, action, also) (Typ) → giustificare
to be justified in doing sth → avere ragione di fare qc
am I justified in thinking that ...? → mi sbaglio o...?

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

justify

(ˈdʒastifai) verb

1. to prove or show (a person, action, opinion etc) to be just, right, desirable or reasonable. How can the government justify the spending of millions of pounds on weapons when there is so much poverty in the country? regverdig, verdedig, goedpraat, wettig, verantwoord, bewys يُبَرِّر، يُسَوِّغ доказвам justificar ospravedlnit rechtfertigen retfærdiggøre δικαιολογώ, δικαιώνωjustificar põhjendama توجیه کردن؛ موجه نشان دادن perustella justifier לְהַצדִיק उचित ठहराना opravdati igazol membuktikan kebenaran réttlæta giustificare 正当化する 적법성의 근거를 보이다 pateisinti attaisnot memberikan alasan yang kukuh rechtvaardigenforsvare, rettferdiggjøre usprawiedliwiać عادلانه حق ثابتول، سم ښودل دحق په توګه څرګندول، له حق څخه دفاع كول: له غش څخه پاك ښوول تبرئه كول justificar a explica объяснять opodstatniť, oprávniť, ospravedlniť utemeljiti opravdati försvara, rättfärdiga แสดงให้เห็นถึง haklı göstermek/çıkarmak 證明...是對的，正當的或合理的 підтверджувати درست برحق ثابت کرنا bào chữa 证明...是正当的

2. to be a good excuse for. Your state of anxiety does not justify your being so rude to me. regverdig. goedpraat, verontskuldig يُبَرِّر، يُكَوِّن عُذْرا оправдавам justificar ospravedlnit rechtfertigen berettige; retfærdiggøre δικαιολογώ, παρέχω δικαιολογία justificar õigustama توجیه کردن oikeuttaa justifier לְהַצדִיק सफाई देना, उचित सिद्ध करना opravdavati felment memberi alasan réttlæta giustificare 正当化する 정당화하다 pateisinti attaisnot memberikan alasan yang kukuh rechtvaardigenrettferdiggjøre, gi rett til åtłumaczyć عادلانه حق ثابتول justificar a jus­tifica оправдывать ospravedlniť opravičiti dati za pravo berättigande แก้ตัว geçerli bir nedeni olmak 構成…的正當理由 виправдувати; вибачати جواز لانا bào chữa 为...辩护

ˌjustiˈfiable adjective

(negative unjustifiable) able to be justified. Is dishonesty ever justifiable? verdedigbaar; verskoonbaar يُمْكِن تَبْريرُه оправдаем justificável ospravedlnitelný entschuldbar berettiget δικαιολογημένοςjustificable vabandatav قابل توجیه oikeutettu justifiableמוצדק उचित opravdan igazolható bisa dibenarkan réttlætanlegur giustificabile 正当化できる 정당화되는 pateisinamas attaisnojams dapat diberikan alasan yang kukuh gerechtvaardigdforsvarlig wybaczalny عادلانه حق ثابتول justificável justificabil могущий быть оправданным ospravedlniteľný, oprávnený opravičljiv opravdan försvarlig, riktig, rättfärdig ที่สมเหตุสมผล haklı görülebilir 可合理化的 дозволенний; поважний جس کا جواز موجود ہو có thể bào chữa 可证明为正当的

ˌjustifiˈcation (-fi-) noun

1. (the act of) justifying or excusing. regverdiging, verdediging تَبْرير извинение justificativa ospravedlněný die Rechtfertigung retfærdiggørelse δικαιολόγηση, δικαίωση justificación õigustamine توجیه perustelu justificationהצדקה औचित्य izgovor indoklás pembenaran réttlæting giustificazione 正当化 정당화, 변명 pateisinimas attaisnošana memberikan alasan yang kukuh rechtvaardigingrettferdiggjøringusprawiedliwienie عادلانه حق ثابتول justificação justificabil оправдание ospravedlnenie, opodstatnenie opravičilo opravdavanje försvar, rättfärdigande การแสดงความบริสุทธิ์; การให้เหตุผลแก้ตัว haklı çıkarma 合理化 виправдання جواز sự bào chữa 证明为正当

2. something that justifies. You have no justification for criticizing him in that way. verantwoording, verontskuldiging, wettiging مُبَرِّر оправдание justificativa oprávnění die Berechtigung grund δικαιολογίαjustificación õigustus بهانه؛ دلیل oikeutus raison valableצידוק दोषमोचन opravdanje indok(oltság), mentség alasan réttlæting giustificazione, scusa 正当な理由 정당하다고 하는 이유 pasiteisinimas attaisnojums justifikasi redenunnskyldning, begrunnelseusprawiedliwienie بهانه justificação motiv cre­dibil основания oprávnenie upravičen razlog opravdanje berättigande การมีเหตุผลอันสมควร haklı neden, gerekçe 正當的理由 виправдні обставини کوئی شے جو جواز قائم کرے lý lẽ bào chữa 正当的理由

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

justify

→ يُبَرِّرُ ospravedlnit retfærdiggøre rechtfertigen δικαιολογώ justificar oikeuttaa justifier opravdati giustificare 正当化する 정당화하다 rechtvaardigen rettferdiggjøre usprawiedliwić justificar обосновывать motivera พิสูจน์ว่าถูกต้อง haklılığını göstermek giải thích 论证

Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009

justify

v. justificar.

English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012