# justifiable

/ˈdʒəstəˌfaɪəbəɫ/ (US) · /dʒˈʌstɪfˌaɪəbəl/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/justifiable
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

having a good reason for an action or a belief. If something is justifiable, you can explain why it is right or fair.

For teachers: capable of being defended or shown to be right, fair, or reasonable. Often used to describe decisions, expenses, or emotional reactions that meet a standard of logic or ethics.

## Examples

- The extra cost is justifiable because the quality is much higher.
- The manager argued that the price increase was justifiable given the rising cost of raw materials.
- In legal contexts, a defendant must prove that their actions were a justifiable response to an immediate threat rather than an act of unprovoked aggression.

## Pitfalls

- Not "a justifiable of the cost" but "a justification of the cost" — Learners sometimes use the adjective 'justifiable' when the noun 'justification' is required.

## Usage notes

- Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'be', 'seem', or 'become'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.