justification
JUSS-tih-fih-KAY-shun
/ˌdʒʌstɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
The action of showing something to be right or reasonable.
Justification assumes that the action might appear wrong at first, but has a valid reason behind it.
The story behind the word. Literally 'to make just'. It comes from the medieval Latin 'justificare'. In theology, it refers to being made righteous in the eyes of God.
Word relationships
- vindication: Vindication is being proven right by external evidence; justification is the argument you make to prove you are right.
- indictment: A formal charge or accusation of a serious crime.
Commonly confused with
- excuse: An excuse seeks to lessen blame for a wrong act; a justification claims the act was actually right.
Word family
- justify (verb): To show or prove to be right or reasonable.
- justifiable (adjective): Able to be shown to be right or reasonable.
Collocations
- moral justification
- economic justification
- without justification
Example sentences
- "The student's constant disruption of the class was the primary justification for his suspension." A teacher explaining why a student was punished.
- "The only justification for interfering with the liberty of others is self-protection." From John Stuart Mill's 'On Liberty'.
Memory hook
Justification = 'Just-if-I-can' prove it was right. Making it 'just'.
When not to use
Don't use this for a simple explanation; use it when you are defending an action that has been questioned.
Fun facts
- In typography, 'justification' refers to aligning text so that both the left and right margins are straight.
Related words
Explore more words
vindicate, rationalize, rationale, Justice, verify, substantiate
Also appears in
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