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 Athletic's Tim Britton projected him for a six-year, $153 million contract last month, which is justifiable in context, but is also a major expenditure for a soft-tosser who's never qualified for the ERA title. —Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025

Consuming alcohol is a justifiable response to the Joining, its role in Helen’s death and the post-apocalyptic world it’s created, but over-reliance on it is nothing new for Carol. —Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 17 Nov. 2025

Barring goaltender Juuse Saros setting an NHL record for most saves in a game, there would have been no justifiable excuse to lose this game. —Peter Baugh, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025

In short, the law enforcement interest in protecting the capital markets is clear and easily justifiable. —Samidh Guha, ABC News, 9 Nov. 2025

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