justice

noun jus·tice \ ˈjə-stəs \

Updated on: 22 Apr 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

The move comes a few weeks after advocates for criminal-justice reforms said they were disappointed that a package of Cuomo proposals, included eliminating cash bail for certain crimes, was excluded from the state budget.

— mike vilensky, WSJ, "New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Grant Parolees Right to Vote," 18 Apr. 2018
Gannon graduated from Bishop Stang High School in Dartmouth in 2003 and received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Westfield State University in 2007.

— john r. ellement, BostonGlobe.com, "Funeral services for Yarmouth police Sergeant Sean Gannon held," 18 Apr. 2018
The massive mishandling of evidence—and, by extension, miscarriage of justice—that occurred in Detroit is not an anomaly.

— torey van oot, Glamour, "Mariska Hargitay’s New Documentary Is an Unflinching Look at America's Untested Rape Kits," 16 Apr. 2018
Smith has been at The Times since 1970, covering local and state government, criminal justice, politics and education.

— doug smith, latimes.com, "Riverside County wildfire poses no threat to Coachella music festival," 15 Apr. 2018
Longtime Mecklenburg District Judge Lou Trosch says poor school performance serves as a portal into the criminal-justice system.

— ann doss helms and michael gordon, charlotteobserver, "Teen has missed 77 days of school. Will threatening his parents with jail help CMS? | Charlotte Observer," 13 Apr. 2018
Stephens avoided prison via another GKFF initiative, Women in Recovery, a criminal-justice diversion program for mothers.

— simon montlake, The Christian Science Monitor, "Tulsa experiment: Can investing in children early reverse poverty cycle?," 13 Apr. 2018
Prior to the shooting, Newton was studying criminal justice.

— howard ludwig, Daily Southtown, "Family offers reward for information about 2017 shooting in Lansing," 11 Apr. 2018
Garcia was looking for some kind of cosmic justice.

— michael rosenberg, SI.com, "Thursday at Augusta Highlighted the Difference Between Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia," 5 Apr. 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)