justified; justifying
Definition of justify
1a : to prove or show to be just, right, or reasonable
trying to justify his selfish behavior I shouldn't have to justify myself to them. justify the ways of God to man— John Milton
b(1) : to show to have had a sufficient legal reason
(2) : to qualify (oneself) as a surety (see surety sense 3) by taking oath to the ownership of sufficient property
2a : to judge, regard, or treat as righteous and worthy of salvation
God justifies with his forgiveness and grace the man who comes to him— Will Herberg
b archaic : to administer justice to
3a : to space (lines of text) so that the lines come out even at the margin
b : to make even by spacing lines of text
justified margins
1a : to show a sufficient lawful reason for an act done
b : to qualify as bail or surety
the surety justified on the bail bond
2 : to justify lines of text
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Time Traveler for justify
The first known use of justify was in the 14th century
See more words from the same century