Main Entry: jus·ti·fy

Pronunciation: \ˈjəs-tə-ˌfī\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): jus·ti·fied; jus·ti·fy·ing

Etymology: Middle English justifien, from Anglo-French or Late Latin; Anglo-French justifier, from Late Latin justificare, from Latin justus

Date: 14th century

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 c : to judge, regard, or treat as righteous and worthy of salvation
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

synonyms see maintain

— jus·ti·fi·er \-ˌfī(-ə)r\ noun