justice

noun

jus·tice | \ ˈjə-stəs

plural justices

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 especially : a judge of an appellate court or court of last resort (as a supreme court) 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 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 Phrases Containing justice Learn More About justice

Synonyms & Antonyms for justice

Synonyms

Antonyms

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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web Prosecutor Casey Novak’s job was simple — convict bad guys that New York City Police Department detectives had arrested and give rape victims some semblance of justice. — Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2022 Smith was arrested and convicted of two misdemeanors following the school board meeting: disorderly conduct and obstruction of justice during the school board meeting. — Emma Colton, Fox News, 13 Sep. 2022 Kelly, 55, is on trial in federal court in Chicago on charges of child pornography and obstruction of justice. — Safia Samee Ali, NBC News, 12 Sep. 2022 Milliron guilty on charges of being an accessory after the fact to the murder, obstruction of justice, and two counts of perjury before the grand jury. — Jennifer Terker, CBS News, 7 Sep. 2022 What is the ritual of justice that takes place at a trial, if not this belief in restoring objective truth, which incidentally doesn’t exist; there is no truth. — Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Sep. 2022 As Lear and the status quo devolve into madness, the whole family faces the brutal truth of family dynamics, loyalty, and the existence of justice. — Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 5 Sep. 2022 The charges include conspiracy, obstruction of an official proceeding, and obstruction of justice; prosecutors accuse her of destroying and hiding potential evidence and tampering with documents. — Peter Weber, The Week, 3 Sep. 2022 The Department of Justice mapped out a strong potential case for obstruction of justice against Trump, experts say. — Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2022 See More

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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From the Editors at Merriam-Webster

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just for fun

justice

justice's warrant

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Last Updated

16 Sep 2022

Cite this Entry

“Justice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/justice. Accessed 24 Sep. 2022.

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More Definitions for justice

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