justice

noun

jus·​tice ˈjə-stəs 

plural justices

1

a

: the process or result of using laws to fairly judge cases, redress wrongs, and punish crimes

meting out justice

social justice

The role of the courts is to dispense justice to everyone.

… efforts … to make it easier for many government employees to seek justice against workplace harassers …

—The New York Times

b

: judge

especially : a judge of an appellate court or court of last resort (as a supreme court)

a supreme court justice

As in most of their high-profile cases, the justices appear to be split along ideological lines.

—Rayna Reid Rayford

The pioneering equal rights litigator was the 107th justice and second woman to serve.

—The Arizona Republic

—used as a title

Justice Marshall

c

: the administration of law

a fugitive from justice

especially : the establishment or determination of rights according to the rules of law or equity

a system of justice

2

a

: the quality of being just, impartial, or fair

questioned the justice of their decision

b(1)

: the principle or ideal of fair treatment or right action

striving to achieve justice for all people

Friends and fans join forces to find justice for their friend.

—Karen MacPherson and Deborah Taylor

(2)

: conformity to this principle or ideal : righteousness

the justice of their cause

see also poetic justice

3

: conformity to truth, fact, or reason : correctness

… admitted that there was much justice in these observations …

—T. L. Peacock

Phrases

bring to justice

: to cause to face the legal process for a crime

The evidence helped bring the perpetrators to justice.

Synonyms of justice

• right
• goodness
• equity

Examples of justice in a Sentence

They received justice in court.

the U.S. Department of Justice

criminals attempting to escape justice

The role of the courts is to dispense justice fairly to everyone.

She is a justice of the state supreme court.

I saw no justice in the court's decision.

We should strive to achieve justice for all people.

Recent Examples on the Web

However, many legal analysts believe the justices will not overturn the precedent, and some additional legal protections for same-sex married couples were passed into federal law in 2022. —Jason Lemon, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025

Walking, as writers from Mahatma Gandhi to James Baldwin have shown, is both an act of freedom and a measure of justice. —Fahad Zuberi, Time, 5 Nov. 2025

More generally, the objectives of AI are determined by those with social power, whether that is in the criminal justice system, in education, in medicine, or in the secret police forces of autocratic surveillance states. —Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025

In Pennsylvania, Democrats convinced voters to retain three state Supreme Court justices for 10-year terms. —David Weigel, semafor.com, 5 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French justise, from Latin justitia, from justus just entry 1.

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing justice

• bring to justice
• chief justice
• do justice
• do justice to
• fugitive from justice
• justice is served/done
• justice of the peace
• miscarriage of justice
• pervert justice
• pervert the course of justice
• poetic justice

Rhymes for justice

• injustice

Kids Definition

justice

noun

jus·​tice ˈjəs-təs 

1

: just conduct, management, or treatment

do justice to a book

2

a

: judge entry 2 sense 1

b

: the administration of law

received justice in court

3

a

: the quality of being fair or just

b

: basis in morality, the right, or the law

Legal Definition

justice

noun

jus·​tice ˈjəs-təs 

1

a

: the quality of being just, impartial, or fair

it is not the province of the court to decide upon the justice or injustice…of these laws

—Scott v. Sanford, 60 U.S. 393 (1857)

b

: the principle or ideal of just dealing

also : conformity to the principle or ideal of just dealing

2

a

: the administration of law

a fugitive from justice

especially : the establishment or determination of rights according to law or equity

system of justice

b

: fair, just, or impartial legal process

courts or tribunals…for the administration of international justice

—G. R. Winters

3

: judge

especially : a judge of an appellate court or court of last resort (as a supreme court)

insults to particular justices and threats of civil disobedience were bandied freely

—R. H. Bork

Etymology

Old French, from Latin justitia, from justus just