verb (used with object) justifies , present (3rd person singular) justified , past participle, past justifying present participle to show (an act, claim, statement, etc.) to be just or right. The end does not always justify the means. Synonyms: validate , vindicate to show (an act, claim, statement, etc.) to be just or right. The end does not always justify the means. to defend or uphold as warranted or well-grounded. Don't try to justify his rudeness. Synonyms: excuse to defend or uphold as warranted or well-grounded. Don't try to justify his rudeness. Theology. to declare innocent or guiltless; absolve ; acquit Theology. to declare innocent or guiltless; absolve ; acquit Printing. to make (a line of type) a desired length by spacing the words and letters, especially so that full lines in a column have even margins both on the left and on the right. to level and square (a strike). to make (a line of type) a desired length by spacing the words and letters, especially so that full lines in a column have even margins both on the left and on the right. to make (a line of type) a desired length by spacing the words and letters, especially so that full lines in a column have even margins both on the left and on the right. to level and square (a strike). to level and square (a strike). verb (used without object) justifies , present (3rd person singular) justified , past participle, past justifying present participle Law. to show a satisfactory reason or excuse for something done. to qualify as bail or surety. to show a satisfactory reason or excuse for something done. to show a satisfactory reason or excuse for something done. to qualify as bail or surety. to qualify as bail or surety. Printing. (of a line of type) to fit exactly into a desired length. Printing. (of a line of type) to fit exactly into a desired length. (often passive) to prove or see to be just or valid; vindicate he was certainly justified in taking the money (often passive) to prove or see to be just or valid; vindicate he was certainly justified in taking the money to show to be reasonable; warrant or substantiate his behaviour justifies our suspicion to show to be reasonable; warrant or substantiate his behaviour justifies our suspicion to declare or show to be free from blame or guilt; absolve to declare or show to be free from blame or guilt; absolve law to show good reason in court for (some action taken) to show adequate grounds for doing (that with which a person is charged) to justify a libel to show good reason in court for (some action taken) to show good reason in court for (some action taken) to show adequate grounds for doing (that with which a person is charged) to justify a libel to show adequate grounds for doing (that with which a person is charged) to justify a libel (also intr) printing computing to adjust the spaces between words in (a line of type or data) so that it is of the required length or (of a line of type or data) to fit exactly (also intr) printing computing to adjust the spaces between words in (a line of type or data) so that it is of the required length or (of a line of type or data) to fit exactly Protestant theol to account or declare righteous by the imputation of Christ's merits to the sinner RC theol to change from sinfulness to righteousness by the transforming effects of grace Protestant theol to account or declare righteous by the imputation of Christ's merits to the sinner Protestant theol to account or declare righteous by the imputation of Christ's merits to the sinner RC theol to change from sinfulness to righteousness by the transforming effects of grace RC theol to change from sinfulness to righteousness by the transforming effects of grace (also intr) law to prove (a person) to have sufficient means to act as surety, etc, or (of a person) to qualify to provide bail or surety (also intr) law to prove (a person) to have sufficient means to act as surety, etc, or (of a person) to qualify to provide bail or surety Other Word Forms prejustify verb (used with object) rejustify verb (used with object) justifyingly adverb Inflected Forms justifying present Conjugated Forms justifies simple have justified perfect has justified perfect am justifying progressive are justifying progressive is justifying progressive have been justifying perfect progressive has been justifying perfect progressive

justified simple had justified perfect was justifying progressive were justifying progressive had been justifying perfect progressive will justify simple will have justified perfect will be justifying progressive will have been justifying perfect progressive Origin of justify First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English justifien, from Old French justifier, from Late Latin jūstificāre, equivalent to Latin jūsti- (combining form of jūstus just 1 ) + -ficāre -fy To justify is to make excuses for one's actions, like the dieter who has to justify the few tiny pieces of chocolate she's sneaked in between salads. Anyone who has ever made excuses for his or her actions knows the meaning of justify , like the bank robber who justifies his latest heist by claiming he needs the bank's money to support his charitable foundation. He might think he's got a good reason for holding up the bank, but he's going to have a hard time convincing the bank's owner of his reason, or justification . To justify a line of text is to space it so that it lines up with the margin. Vocabulary lists containing justify The Vocabulary.com Top 1000 Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide! Essential Academic Vocabulary for High School Students, List 3 Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use! You Be the Judge: Jud, Jur, Jus Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time! Example Sentences Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com. See Examples For: As technology improves – with lighter hardware, lower power use, and cheaper installation – screens have become easier for airlines to justify . From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026 Rising labor costs have made it easier for warehouse operators to justify the cost of warehouse automation, which can run into the hundreds of millions of dollars, industry experts say. From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026 “It’s tough,” said Andrew Carman, a hydrogen dealmaker at the conference who said there just aren’t enough buyers to justify much new fuel production. From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026 Before listening to the arguments in detail, the Court of Appeal judges must decide whether the grounds justify granting Patterson leave to challenge her conviction at all. From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026 This conceptual framework has proved remarkably stable, even while the scientific knowledge it is used to describe and justify has changed beyond all recognition. From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton That justifies a premium of a few percentage points. From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026 "This research justifies a strong precautionary approach against introductions of extraterrestrial origin." From Science Daily ● Jul. 6, 2026 Its historic premium to the semiconductor sector justifies a $390 stock price. From Barron's ● May 14, 2026 The version that justifies near-term cuts, presumably the one Warsh is making, is the weaker one. From MarketWatch ● May 8, 2026 Dissent is a necessary ingredient of change, but in a system of government that provides for peaceful change, there is no cause that justifies resort to violence. From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander “Stocks that move this violently in both directions tend to keep doing so, and today’s rally, however well justified by the news, doesn’t change that underlying volatility,” Friedman said. From MarketWatch ● Aug. 17, 2026 Mr. Chandler’s admiration for Grossman is great and justified, although at times it clouds his judgment. From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026 Analysts said the latest developments had traders questioning whether the week's early gains were justified . From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026 Dr Eleanor Drage, a senior researcher at the University of Cambridge, said concerns about AI disadvantaging women in recruitment are "very justified ". From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026 Many whites who supported Jim Crow justified it on paternalist grounds, actually believing they were doing blacks a favor or believing the time was not yet “right” for equality. From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander In justifying that more upbeat outlook, Chipotle’s executives said they still liked their sales momentum overall. From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026 The majority didn’t issue an opinion justifying its ruling. From Salon ● Jul. 3, 2026 The Times quotes officials justifying the order by saying it would reduce duplication of effort; our own spies wouldn’t bother recruiting someone if they knew he or she was already an agent. From Slate ● Jul. 1, 2026 Those include the potential for renewed fighting in the Middle East and worries that the AI build-out won’t yield profits justifying companies’ massive expenditures. From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026 “The ends justifying the means is something a ruthless dictator might say, not a philosopher.” From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023 Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Dictionary.com's Learning Companion Go beyond just looking up words. Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.