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Justice

JUS-tis /ˈdʒʌstɪs/

nounB2SATGRETOEFL

formalgeneral

Just behavior or treatment; the quality of being fair and reasonable.

Justice is a broad concept encompassing fairness, righteousness, and the administration of law. It can refer to individual acts of fairness, a system of law that upholds rights, or a philosophical ideal of moral rightness.

The story behind the word. The word 'justice' comes to us from Old French 'justice,' which itself originated from the Latin 'justitia.' This Latin term meant 'righteousness, equity, vindication,' and was derived from 'justus,' meaning 'just, right.' The Roman goddess of justice, Justitia, was often depicted with scales and a sword, symbolizing balance and enforcement. The concept has been central to legal systems for thousands of years, emphasizing fairness and moral rightness.

Word relationships

Fairness: A more general term for impartiality and equitable treatment.
Equity: The quality of being fair and impartial, often implying tailored treatment to achieve fairness.
Righteousness: The quality of being morally right or justifiable.

Injustice: Lack of fairness or justice; an unjust act or treatment.
Unfairness: The state of being unjust or inequitable.
Partiality: Unfair bias in favor of one person or thing; favoritism.

Commonly confused with

Revenge: While both involve responding to a wrong, 'justice' aims for fairness and upholding law, whereas 'revenge' is driven by personal retribution and often lacks impartiality.

Word family

just (adjective): based on or behaving according to what is morally right and fair.
justly (adverb): in a just or fair manner.
justifiable (adjective): able to be shown to be right or reasonable; defensible.

Collocations

social justice
criminal justice
environmental justice
seek justice
demand justice
deliver justice

Idioms & expressions

do justice to (treat fairly/adequately)
bring to justice (apprehend and punish)

Example sentences

"The pursuit of justice is a fundamental aim of any civilized society, ensuring that wrongs are righted." The legal system's goal.
"She fought for social justice, advocating for those who were marginalized and underserved." A moral principle.
"After years of appeals, the victim's family finally felt that justice had been served." The outcome of a trial.

Memory hook

Think of a 'JUST' judge making a 'JUSTICE' decision. JUST and fair.

When not to use

Avoid using 'justice' simply to mean 'punishment.' While punishment can be part of a justice system, the word itself refers to the broader principle of fairness and rightness, not just retribution.

Fun facts

The scales of justice symbolize the weighing of evidence and arguments, while the blindfold represents impartiality, and the sword signifies the power to enforce decisions.