unjustified

adjective un·jus·ti·fied \ ˌən-ˈjə-stə-ˌfīd \

|Updated on: 17 Jul 2018

Definition of unjustified

: not justified: such as

a : not demonstrably correct or judicious : not warranted or appropriate

unjustified anger

an unjustified punishment

b : not spaced to be even

unjustified lines of text

an unjustified margin

See unjustified defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of unjustified from the Web

In that case, the justices found that certain restrictions Texas had imposed in the name of protecting women’s health were medically unjustified and intended to make abortions harder to obtain.

— laura vozzella, BostonGlobe.com, "Va. seeks to dismiss suit challenging abortion restrictions," 14 July 2018
In December 2017, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, a Chicago oversight board, ruled that the shooting deaths of LeGrier and Jones were both unjustified.

— breanna edwards, The Root, "Jury Finds that Chicago Cop Acted ‘Reasonably’ in 2015 Fatal Shooting of Quintonio LeGrier," 28 June 2018
As a result of some changed procedures and reining in some unjustified schedule optimism, the changes will mean that Webb won't be launched until March of 2021, a delay that will tack on $800 million to the telescope's $8 billion price tag.

— john timmer, Ars Technica, "Webb Space Telescope pushed back again, won’t launch until 2021," 27 June 2018
In 2017, Chicago’s Civilian Office of Police Accountability agreed, determining that the deaths of both LeGrier and Jones were unjustified and adding that evidence suggested Rialmo was further away from LeGrier than initially reported.

— p.r. lockhart, Vox, "Quintonio LeGrier was killed by police. A jury awarded his family $1 million. Then a judge took it away.," 29 June 2018
Raja, 40, was charged two years ago after a grand jury found the use of force was unjustified.

— marc freeman, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Corey Jones killing: Trial delayed as ex-cop Raja appeals over ‘stand your ground’ denial," 21 June 2018
In that case, the justices found that certain restrictions Texas had imposed in the name of protecting women’s health were medically unjustified and intended to make abortions harder to obtain.

— laura vozzella, Washington Post, "Abortion rights groups sue Virginia over restrictions they call medically unnecessary," 20 June 2018
The increases in the assessments of our property continue to be unreasonable and unjustified.

— gabrielle russon, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Disney fights over latest tax bill for Grand Floridian, other properties," 18 June 2018
Oh, and two final pieces of completely unjustified speculation, just for fun.

— chaim gartenberg, The Verge, "Bringing iOS apps to the Mac, on macOS’s terms," 7 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'unjustified.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of unjustified

14th century

in the meaning defined above

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Law Dictionary

unjustified

adjective un·jus·ti·fied \ ˌən-ˈjəs-tə-ˌfīd \

legal Definition of unjustified

: not justified

an unjustified intrusion

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