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

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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.

Recent Examples on the Web Images of marches in the streets for racial justice from this past summer and decades past play flash between images of militarized police and white supremacists carrying confederate flags. — Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, "'It’s the right moment': More Than A Vote launches 2021 campaign with new ad starring LeBron James," 5 Mar. 2021 But after a year that included a divisive election, nationwide protests for racial justice and a global pandemic that drove much of the business world to remote work, many employers are questioning the practice. — Katherine Bindley, WSJ, "Right to Be Anonymous? Not at Some Company Meetings," 5 Mar. 2021 Amid the Black Lives Matter movement and fight for racial justice, HBCUs have seen a surge in funding. — Beth Kowitt, Fortune, "How HBCUs are changing the face of business and political leadership," 4 Mar. 2021 What an old poem says about the search for justice following the Capitol riot Marches and mobs in Washington, D.C., have been much on the minds of Americans of late. — David W. Blight, The New Republic, "James Weldon Johnson’s Ode to the “Deep River” of American History," 2 Mar. 2021 The colors of Mardi Gras have special meaning: Green for faith, purple for justice, and gold for power. — Maya Kachroo-levine, Travel + Leisure, "New Orleans Travel Guide," 1 Mar. 2021 Another proponent of the zoning changes, Rabbi Aaron Alexander of Adas Israel Congregation in Cleveland Park, recently urged congregants to place their desire for social justice above concerns about traffic congestion and overcrowding. — Paul Schwartzman, Washington Post, "How George Floyd’s death is fueling a push for affordable housing in mostly White parts of D.C.," 1 Mar. 2021 In its passionate call for justice, its focus is the unwritten future as much as the past. — New York Times, "LaToya Ruby Frazier, American Witness," 1 Mar. 2021 Some felt dismayed that Black and brown community leaders had not rushed to the defense of Asian Americans; others claimed that such standards construed the fight for justice as quid pro quo. — Hua Hsu, The New Yorker, "The Muddled History of Anti-Asian Violence," 1 Mar. 2021

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

Dictionary Entries near justice

Statistics for justice

Last Updated

8 Mar 2021

Cite this Entry

“Justice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/justice. Accessed 8 Mar. 2021.

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More Definitions for justice

justice

noun

English Language Learners Definition of justice

: the process or result of using laws to fairly judge and punish crimes and criminals

US : a judge in a court of law

—used as a title for a judge (such as a judge of the U.S. Supreme Court)

See the full definition for justice in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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

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