What does justify mean?
“Justify” is a verb used to provide a convincing reason for an action, decision, claim, or expenditure, or to show that something is fair, proper, or deserved. In everyday contexts, it often appears in phrases such as “justify a decision” or “justify the cost” of something. The verb can also mean to clear someone of blame: a successful outcome may justify an earlier decision, while evidence may justify a person’s actions. In publishing, it has the more specialized sense of arranging text so that its margins appear even. Its connotations depend on context: justification can suggest reasonable explanation, moral defense, or, less neutrally, an effort to excuse a questionable action. The word is useful because it combines practical reasoning with the broader idea of establishing something as right or warranted.
verbTo give a satisfactory reason for an action, belief, or claim, or to show that something is right, reasonable, or deserved. It can also mean to free someone from blame or to make text align with the margins.
- To give a satisfactory reason for an action, decision, expense, or claim.
- To show or prove that someone or something is right, blameless, or deserving of a particular response.
- To make a line of text fit neatly within the margins by adjusting its spacing.
- To align text so that its edges appear even and intentional.
"The new evidence helped justify the committee's decision to postpone the project."
"Can you justify spending so much on advertising?"
"The results justified the team's decision to change direction."
"The editor adjusted the spacing to justify the paragraph."
To justify a claim is to build a bridge of reasons between an idea and the evidence that supports it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does justify come from?
The word comes through Middle English from Old French justifier, which was borrowed from Latin justificare, “to declare just, make right, or pronounce innocent.” That Latin verb was formed from justus, meaning just or lawful, and the suffix -ficare, meaning to make or cause. Its modern forms developed alongside related words such as justice and just, and it later acquired the typographical meaning of aligning text.
Related word forms
How justify is actually used
In general use, “justify” often means to provide a reason or show that an action was reasonable. In a moral or legal context, it can mean to demonstrate that someone is blameless or deserving of approval. The typographical senses are technical and usually occur in publishing or text formatting.
Easily confused with justify
“Justify” is a verb meaning to give reasons for or demonstrate the rightness of something, whereas “justice” is a noun referring to fairness or the administration of fair treatment.