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.
Recent Examples on the Web Trending on Billboard Swift backlash ensued, with members of the Ginsburg family — including the late justice’s Grammy-winning son James Ginsburg — and former RBG clerk Trevor Morrison calling on the Opperman Foundation to remove her name from the award. Kyle Denis, Billboard, 18 Mar. 2024 Barbra Streisand joined the family of Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Monday in condemning the choice of a leadership award previously named after the late Supreme Court justice going to Elon Musk and Rupert Murdoch, among others. Zoe G Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Mar. 2024 Each of the officers were charged with conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice, according to the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office. Emma Tucker, CNN, 18 Mar. 2024 Historical spoiler alert: Every one of the cases included in Homicide end with the killers behind bars, but heart-rending interviews with the victims’ families and friends emphasize the chasm that remains between a conviction and justice. Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 18 Mar. 2024 Anderson has had a warrant out for her arrest in Washington County, Indiana, since October 2022 for charges of murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death and obstruction of justice, per the statement. Brian Anthony Hernandez, Peoplemag, 17 Mar. 2024 Oliver Wendell Holmes, the father of the Supreme Court justice of the same name, created a popular handheld model in 1861. Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 17 Mar. 2024 Some justices engaged in a public back-and-forth over the court’s legitimacy, the very topic Ms. Sotomayor raised in the courtroom. Mark Sherman and Lindsay Whitehurst, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Mar. 2024 An aspiring therapist, Cox toured the City of Denton Jail with her criminal justice class on July 15, 1997. Claire Lempert, ABC News, 15 Mar. 2024

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 28 Mar. 2024.

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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