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

2

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

b

: made even by spacing lines of text

a document with justified margins

Synonyms of justified

• reasonable
• reasoned
• logical
• valid
• good
• rational
• sensible

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

So civil disobedience and noncompliance are indeed justified. —Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 26 Jan. 2026

Regulators, however, currently have no authority to include affiliates’ financial records when determining whether the rate hikes are justified. —Ron Hurtibise, Sun Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026

According to Dumas, whether justified or not, confidence sustains effort long enough for skill and clarity to catch up. —Matt Emma, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026

While federal officials weigh possible civil rights violations over the invasion of a Minnesota church service on Sunday, leftist Christian leaders are cheering the anti-ICE protesters, casting the disruption of worship as a justified act of judgment. —Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 20 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for justified

• actinide
• aldehyde
• alkoxide
• alongside
• amplified
• arsenide
• beautified
• biocide
• butoxide
• calcified
• ceramide
• certified