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

The term midlist, in contrast, is reserved for new books for which publication seems economically justifiable but are not otherwise expected to become fast-selling bestsellers, and indeed, most new books end up being on the midlist. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Apr. 2026

Prosecutors have determined that the police shooting of a man in South San Francisco in December was legally justifiable and no charges will be filed against the involved officers. —Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026

As with Osterweil, who argued that white supremacy can render even violent looting a legitimate act, Piker and Tolentino suggest that certain crimes become not just morally justifiable but even admirable when coupled with a claim against structural injustice. —Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026

The reader must, unknown to themselves, be so moved by the emotional stakes of the debate that only one outcome feels justifiable. —Literary Hub, 23 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1561, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for justifiable

• liable
• pliable
• triable
• viable
• classifiable
• modifiable
• notifiable
• satisfiable
• specifiable
• undeniable
• unreliable
• verifiable

Legal Definition

justifiable

adjective

jus·​ti·​fi·​able ˌjəs-tə-ˈfī-ə-bəl 

: capable of being justified

justifiable reliance