justice

noun

jus·​tice ˈjə-stəs 

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 observations

—T. L. Peacock

Synonyms

• equity
• fair shake
• right

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.

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Recent Examples on the Web

Elsewhere, a federal civil rights case was filed last year against four Louisville, Kentucky, police officers over a drug raid that led to the death of Breonna Taylor, a Black woman whose fatal shooting helped fuel racial justice protests that swept the nation in 2020. —Adrian Sainz and Jonathan Mattise, Anchorage Daily News, 12 Sep. 2023

Less than two months later, he was charged following a federal investigation into his handling of classified documents (and what prosecutors say was a conspiracy to obstruct justice during the probe). —Virginia Chamlee, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2023

In theory, eight of the justices could collectively decide to strip another justice of their vote in the most extreme circumstances. —Matt Ford, The New Republic, 12 Sep. 2023

Those affected by disappearances and murders during Mr. Pinochet’s rule are still struggling for justice. —Naomi Larsson Piñeda, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Sep. 2023

By tradition in Illinois, the outgoing Supreme Court justice selects their replacement, who then still must be approved by the full court. —Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2023

That’s a particular challenge for health care and criminal justice agencies. —Todd Feathers, WIRED, 11 Sep. 2023

Rescheduling will have a broad range of benefits, including signaling to the criminal justice system that cannabis is a lower priority and providing a crucial economic lifeline to the cannabis industry. —CBS News, 31 Aug. 2023

Mildred Madison’s grandchildren have been active in several movements, including civil rights, Black Lives Matter, LGBTQ+ rights, Women’s March and environmental justice. —Detroit Free Press, 31 Aug. 2023

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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

Phrases Containing justice

• do justice
• pervert the course of justice
• justice is served/done
• do justice to
• miscarriage of justice
• justice of the peace
• chief justice
• poetic justice
• fugitive from justice
• pervert justice

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• do justice
• pervert the course of justice
• justice is served/done
• do justice to
• miscarriage of justice
• justice of the peace
• chief justice
• poetic justice
• fugitive from justice
• pervert justice

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Kids Definition

justice

noun

jus·​tice ˈjəs-təs 

1

: just conduct, management, or treatment

do justice to a book

2

a

: judge entry 2 sense 1

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 

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 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

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 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

Etymology

Old French, from Latin justitia, from justus just