Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

do justice to

idiom

Definition of do justice to

: to treat or show (something or someone) in a way that is as good as it should be
  • Words could never do justice to her beauty.
  • The movie does not do justice to the book.
  • a brief summary that does not do justice to the complexity of this issue

Word by Word Definitions

do play

  1. : to bring to pass : carry out

  2. : put

  3. : perform, execute

  1. : fuss, ado

  2. : deed, duty

  3. : a festive get-together : affair, party

  1. : the first tone of the major scale in solfège

See the full definition of do
justice play

  1. : the maintenance or administration of what is just especially by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishments

  2. : judge

  3. : the administration of law

See the full definition of justice

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up do justice to? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games