justice

noun jus·tice \ ˈjə-stəs \

|Updated on: 16 Jun 2018

Definition of justice

1 a : 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

2 a : 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

See justice defined for English-language learners

See justice defined for kids

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 of justice from the Web

Close your door to the lobbyists around here and open your door to justice.

— maria panaritis, Philly.com, "A Catholic Church child sex abuse bombshell is coming, and Pa. lawmakers had better be on the right side | Maria Panaritis," 13 June 2018
Despite Brawley being the lawman who helped bring Greenawalt to justice, the convict would only talk to him once recaptured.

— jerod macdonald-evoy, azcentral, "Tom Brawley, lawman who led the chase for Tison Gang 40 years ago, dies," 13 June 2018
Reporter Yashar Ali highlighted Bourdain’s dogged pursuit of justice for Argento and the other survivors of Weinstein in a series of tweets.

— kenzie bryant, Vanities, "Asia Argento on Anthony Bourdain: “He Was My Love, My Rock, My Protector”," 8 June 2018
Paul Manafort, former chairman of President Donald Trump’s campaign, is also facing additional charges of witness tampering and obstruction of justice, The Washington Post reported.

— natalie dreier, ajc, "Mueller investigation: Paul Manafort, Moscow aide Konstantin Kilimnik charged with obstruction," 8 June 2018
One of the suspect's moms might now be the key in bringing the pair to justice.

— matthew martinez, star-telegram, "Mom recognized son's Crime Stoppers photo — so she dragged him to the station, Texas cops say," 7 June 2018
As the dust of time grows heavier and heavier in the case, and people who were associated with it die out, retire, or move elsewhere, the chances of the killer ever being brought to justice grow slimmer and slimmer.

— hadley meares, Los Angeles Magazine, "One of the “Tragic Mysteries in Local History” Has Been All But Forgotten," 7 June 2018
In addition to social justice, what else guides your collecting?

— New York Times, "A Personal Gallery of Social Justice," 6 June 2018
Critiques of police violence are often tempered by assertions that the police provide a necessary peacekeeping force to guard against crime and ensure that criminals are brought to justice.

— mychal denzel smith, The New Republic, "How America became over-policed," 5 June 2018

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.

Origin and Etymology of justice

Middle English, from Anglo-French justise, from Latin justitia, from justus — see ¹just

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

justice Synonyms

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

JUSTICE Defined for English Language Learners

justice

noun

Definition of justice for English Language Learners

: the process or result of using laws to fairly judge and punish crimes and criminals
: a judge in a court of law
Justice —used as a title for a judge (such as a judge of the U.S. Supreme Court)