justifiable

adjective

jus·​ti·​fi·​able ˈjə-stə-ˌfī-ə-bəl 

: capable of being justified : excusable

… justifiable family pride.

—Current Biography

justifiability

ˌjə-stə-ˌfī-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

justifiably

ˈjə-stə-ˌfī-ə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms of justifiable

• legitimate
• acceptable
• supportable
• defendable
• viable
• rational
• reasonable
• maintainable
• defensible

Examples of justifiable in a Sentence

had justifiable reasons for leaving early

Recent Examples on the Web

Somehow, Jacob Elordi was able to pull a genuinely affecting performance out of this mess, which makes his nomination the only justifiable one of this movie’s bloated haul. —Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2026

Many on hand Sunday said the American intervention in the Middle East was justifiable action in response to, among other things, the killings of protesters in Iran earlier this year. —Adi Guajardo, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026

Though spending big in a deal for someone such as Thomas is entirely justifiable, because of his age and contract, overpaying for true rentals or older players is a risk better avoided. —Max Bultman, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026

The administration has argued in favor of gun rights in other cases, but government lawyers say this law is a justifiable restriction. —Arkansas Online, 1 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1561, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for justifiable

• leviable
• reliable
• classifiable
• modifiable
• notifiable
• satisfiable
• specifiable
• undeniable
• unreliable
• verifiable
• emulsifiable
• identifiable

Legal Definition

justifiable

adjective

jus·​ti·​fi·​able ˌjəs-tə-ˈfī-ə-bəl 

: capable of being justified

justifiable reliance