justice

noun

jus·tice | \ ˈjə-stəs

Definition of justice

1a : the maintenance or administration of what is just especially by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishments meting out justice social justice

b : judge a supreme court justice —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

2a : the quality of being just, impartial, or fair questioned the justice of the their decision

b(1) : the principle or ideal of just dealing or right action

(2) : conformity to this principle or ideal : righteousness the justice of their cause

c : the quality of conforming to law

3 : conformity to truth, fact, or reason : correctness admitted that there was much justice in these observations— T. L. Peacock

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about justice

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Synonyms & Antonyms for justice

Synonyms

equity, fair shake, right

Antonyms

inequity, injustice, raw deal, wrong

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

Kudadoo Maldives has 13 one-bedroom and a pair of two-bedroom villas that overlook the water, each with a view that no Instagram would do justice. — Maya Mcdowell, House Beautiful, "This Island in the Maldives Has Villas Overlooking the Water, and We Want to Go Right Now," 5 Feb. 2019 In this work, ordinarily, people and women, [especially] immigrant women, do not see that rate of justice. — Jewel Wicker, Teen Vogue, "Penn Badgley Is Teaming Up With the Tahirih Justice Center to Help Vilma Carrillo, an Immigrant Mom Separated From Her Daughter," 21 Dec. 2018 Both Viner and Gaskill are currently awaiting trial on charges of wire fraud and obstruction of justice, while Viner will face an additional charge of conspiracy to make false or hoax reports to the police. — Jon Porter, The Verge, "California man pleads guilty to fatal swatting and FCC bomb threat," 14 Nov. 2018 Gioia said the county will tap into reserve funds from AB109, a 2011 bill that realigned the state’s criminal justice system by transferring the incarceration of lower-level offenders from state prisons to county jails. — Otis R. Taylor Jr., SFChronicle.com, "Honduran woman deported from Contra Costa jail is glad to hear ICE is getting booted," 12 July 2018 Witty and deadly serious, High Flying Bird is preoccupied with what we're all preoccupied with 2019: capitalism, work, social justice, race. — Taylor Antrim, Vogue, "Why Netflix's High Flying Bird Feels Like The Future of Movies," 8 Feb. 2019 Jacquez is passionate about improving access to the legal profession for students of color, civil rights law, police accountability, education, and social justice. — Cyrus Farivar, Ars Technica, "Bay Area: Join us 9/12 to learn about Oakland’s unique approach to privacy," 5 Sep. 2018 Filling Lozano’s vacancy would be the eighth justice system appointment the Indiana senators have worked on. — Becky Jacobs, Post-Tribune, "Hammond federal judge Rudy Lozano, 76, dies," 13 July 2018 Many of Ocasio-Cortez's progressive freshmen colleagues are also sponsors, including Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Deb Haaland (NM-01), and Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), all of whom ran on environmental justice as part of their platforms. — Bridget Read, Vogue, "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Green New Deal Resolution Gets Support From the Major 2020 Democratic Presidential Candidates," 7 Feb. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'justice.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for justice

justice

noun

English Language Learners Definition of justice

: the process or result of using laws to fairly judge and punish crimes and criminals

US : a judge in a court of law

—used as a title for a judge (such as a judge of the U.S. Supreme Court)

See the full definition for justice in the English Language Learners Dictionary

justice

noun

jus·tice | \ ˈjəs-təs

Kids Definition of justice

1 : fair treatment Everyone deserves justice.

2 : judge entry 2 sense 1

3 : the process or result of using laws to fairly judge people accused of crimes

4 : the quality of being fair or just They were treated with justice.

justice

noun

jus·tice | \ ˈjəs-təs

Legal Definition of justice

1a : 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

2a : 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