justification
JUSS-tih-fih-KAY-shuhn
/ˌdʒʌstɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
The action of showing something to be right or reasonable; good reason or evidence given for a belief or action.
In philosophy, justification is what separates true belief from actual knowledge (e.g., 'justified true belief').
The story behind the word. Combining 'iustus' (upright, lawful) and 'facere' (to make), Romans used 'iustificare' to mean declaring or rendering something lawful. In legal and theological contexts, justification meant proving an action stood on righteous ground.
Word relationships
- rationale: Focuses on the underlying logical reasoning behind a decision.
- vindication: Implies clearing someone or something from blame or suspicion after the fact.
- refutation: Arguments showing that a belief or policy is unjustified or false.
Commonly confused with
- excuse: An excuse seeks to minimize blame for a fault; a justification demonstrates that the action was correct.
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
- adequate justification
- moral justification
- provide justification
- without justification
Example sentences
- "Philosophers have long argued that a belief must have adequate justification before it can count as true knowledge." Epistemology
- "The government offered economic stability as the main justification for imposing new trade regulations." Public Policy
Memory hook
JUSTification = proving that your claim is JUST right. Proving a belief or action stands on solid right ground.
When not to use
Do not use as a synonym for an empty excuse made up to evade blame.
Fun facts
- In typography, 'justification' refers to aligning text evenly along margins so the layout looks 'right'!
Related words
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