justified
adjective
jus·ti·fied
ˈjə-stə-ˌfīd 
1
: having or shown to have a just, right, or reasonable basis
a justified punishment
a justified reputation for toughness
Such work calls for a combination of training and talent that few can lay justified claim to …—
Bernard Knox
Bernard Knox2
typography
a
: aligned evenly at the margin
a justified line of text
In justified composition, where the type must be flush with both the left and right margins, the machine will automatically expand or condense the word space or hyphenate end-of-line words to fill up the line measure.—Ray Blair and Thomas M. Destree
Ray Blair and Thomas M. Destree
b
: made even by spacing lines of text
a document with justified margins
Examples of justified in a Sentence
in a well-justified ruling the court voted unanimously to overturn the law
the use of force to capture the armed fugitive was fully justified
Recent Examples on the Web
Parente said he was concerned moving the vehicle so far away could leave it open to being altered, and his concern seemed justified in another hearing four days later.
—Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2025
Shares of Darden Restaurants have added 1% this year, but Cho said that Darden Restaurant’s somewhat elevated current valuation still seems justified.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2025
City officials say the hikes are justified, because San Diego loses revenue when parking spots that could otherwise have meters are devoted to other uses like dining or valet parking drop-off and pickup.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Oct. 2025
Authenticity is a word bandied around by commissioners and execs, but in the case of the Osbournes its use feels justified.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for justified
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Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2025
Shares of Darden Restaurants have added 1% this year, but Cho said that Darden Restaurant’s somewhat elevated current valuation still seems justified.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2025
City officials say the hikes are justified, because San Diego loses revenue when parking spots that could otherwise have meters are devoted to other uses like dining or valet parking drop-off and pickup.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Oct. 2025
Authenticity is a word bandied around by commissioners and execs, but in the case of the Osbournes its use feels justified.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for justified
Cite this Entry
“Justified.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/justified. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
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