What does justifiable mean?
Justifiable is an adjective meaning that an action, decision, claim, or feeling can be supported by good reasons and therefore defended as reasonable. It is especially common in formal discussions of law, ethics, business, administration, and public policy. A person may describe conduct as justifiable when there is a morally acceptable or compelling explanation for it, even if the conduct itself causes controversy. The word does not mean that something is automatically right or that its justification is beyond criticism; it means that a defensible reason can be given. For example, emergency spending may be considered justifiable if it is necessary to protect public safety. In contrast, calling conduct justifiable can still be challenged if the reasons offered are weak, misleading, or disproportionate. The related word justifiably expresses the same idea adverbially, while justification names the reason or defence that makes something defensible.
adjectiveA justifiable action, claim, or decision is one that can be supported by adequate reasons or evidence and is therefore capable of being defended as reasonable.
- Able to be justified, supported by reasons or evidence, and regarded as reasonable or defensible.
"The restrictions were justifiable only because the situation posed a serious risk to public safety."
"The editor considered the deletion justifiable because the unpublished information had been obtained illegally."
"Although the delay was understandable, the decision to delay the announcement was not justifiable."
To call something justifiable is not necessarily to prove it right; it is to say that good reasons can be offered in its defence.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does justifiable come from?
The English adjective was formed by adding the suffix -able to justify, producing a word meaning “capable of being justified.” The verb justify comes through Old French justifier from Latin justificare, “to declare righteous,” which was based on justus, meaning “right” or “just.” The same Latin root also underlies just, justice, justification, and righteous.
Related word forms
How justifiable is actually used
Formal and relatively abstract, especially common in legal, ethical, academic, and administrative discussion. It emphasizes the availability of a reasonable defence or explanation rather than proving that an action is morally or factually correct.
Easily confused with justifiable
Justifiable describes something capable of being defended as reasonable, while justified describes something that has already been considered reasonable or defensible.