justify
pronunciation
How to pronounce justify in British English:
UK [ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪ]
How to pronounce justify in American English:
US [ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪ]
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- Verb:
- show to be reasonable or provide adequate ground for
- show to be right by providing justification or proof
- defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning
- let off the hook
- adjust the spaces between words
Word Origin
- justify (v.)
- c. 1300, "to administer justice;" late 14c., "to show (something) to be just or right," from Old French justifiier "submit to court proceedings" (12c.), from Latin iustificare "act justly toward, make just," from iustificus "dealing justly, righteous," from iustus "just" (see just (adj.)) + root of facere "to do" (see factitious). Of circumstances, "to afford justification," from 1630s. Meaning "to make exact" (now largely restricted to typesetting) is from 1550s. Related: Justified; justifying.
Antonym
Example
- 1. You forgive everything , you accept everything , you justify everything .
- 2. These rankings are not meant to justify or glorify these odious men .
- 3. The mental green shoots are making us tell ourselves stories to justify a little spending .
- 4. Bulls justify such lofty valuations by plugging high growth numbers into their models .
- 5. As the casualties mount , israel is increasingly obliged to justify its tactics .