justice

noun

jus·​tice ˈjə-stəs How to pronounce justice (audio)
plural justices
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
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
2
a
: 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 observationsT. L. Peacock

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 Nikki Battiste: How has this fight for justice been? Nikki Battiste, CBS News, 25 Nov. 2023 The policy, agreed upon by all nine justices, does not appear to impose any significant new requirements and leaves compliance entirely to each justice. Byeamon Barrett, Fortune, 22 Nov. 2023 The arrests set off a firestorm of controversy — and an investigation into the juvenile justice practices in one Tennessee county. ProPublica, 22 Nov. 2023 The justices read the law as not necessarily guaranteeing representation for people of color, but instead preventing their rights from returning to an earlier state. Nick Corasaniti, New York Times, 21 Nov. 2023 The court's three conservative justices opposed the four liberal justices' decision to take up the challenge to the state's legislative maps and were quick to question the timing of the case — filed one day after the majority on the court flipped on Aug. 1 and just two years after a previous case. Barnini Chakraborty, Washington Examiner, 21 Nov. 2023 This is the necessary basis for establishing peace and justice in Palestine and Israel. Atina Grossmann, The New York Review of Books, 20 Nov. 2023 Public scrutiny has increased on the District’s strategies to combat serious substance abuse, which city officials say tax hospital emergency departments, the criminal justice system and law enforcement. Jenna Portnoy, Washington Post, 14 Nov. 2023 But the justices have been inconsistent in doing so since. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 14 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'justice.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of justice was in the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near justice

Cite this Entry

“Justice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/justice. Accessed 3 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

justice

noun
jus·​tice ˈjəs-təs How to pronounce justice (audio)
1
: just conduct, management, or treatment
do justice to a book
2
b
: the administration of law
received justice in court
3
a
: the quality of being fair or just
b
: basis in morality, the right, or the law

Legal Definition

justice

noun
jus·​tice ˈjəs-təs How to pronounce justice (audio)
1
a
: 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 lawsScott 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
2
a
: 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 justiceG. 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
Etymology

Old French, from Latin justitia, from justus just

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