What does justs mean?
The plural noun “justs” denotes people who are morally upright, righteous, or fair. It is relatively uncommon in modern English and belongs chiefly to formal, religious, legal, and literary writing. The best-known expression is “the just and the unjust,” a contrast between people who act honorably and those who transgress moral or legal standards. Although the word can suggest strict adherence to justice, it can also carry a broader religious or ethical implication, especially when it appears in discussions of divine judgment, conscience, or compassion. The related singular noun “just” is similarly literary and can be used of an upright person, though “the just” often functions collectively. In older grammatical usage, “justs” is also the third-person singular present of the obsolete verb “just,” meaning “to justify.”
People collectively who are morally upright, righteous, or fair.
"The novel contrasts the just with those who abuse their power."
Chiefly literary, formal, religious, or archaic; especially common in the expression “the just and the unjust.”
Obsolete third-person singular present form of just, meaning “to justify.”
"He justs his decision by appealing to the evidence."
This grammatical form is obsolete and unlikely to occur in modern English.
The form is used of upright, righteous, or morally blameless people, often collectively in formal or literary language.
"The judge remains impartial toward both the just and the unjust."
Phrases such as “the just and the unjust” preserve the noun’s old moral and legal sense of people who are upright or corrupt.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does justs come from?
The underlying adjective and noun descend ultimately from Latin iustus, meaning upright, just, or lawful, through Old French juste. English developed both an adjective meaning fair or morally upright and a noun referring to an upright or righteous person. Latin iustus also underlies related forms such as justice, justify, and justness.
Related word forms
How justs is actually used
The plural noun is literary, archaic, or rhetorical rather than everyday vocabulary. It is especially familiar from paired expressions involving the just and the unjust. As a verb form, “justs” is obsolete.
Easily confused with justs
As a plural noun, this refers collectively to upright or morally blameless people; in the obsolete verb form, it means “he, she, or it justifies.”