Word
justification
Phoneticsjus·ti·fi·ca·tion, stress on the fourth syllable
US/ˌdʒəstəfəˈkeɪʃən/
UK/dʒˌʌstɪfɪkˈeɪʃən/
Definitions
01a reason or excuse
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a good reason or explanation that shows why something is right or fair.
n. a reason, explanation, or excuse that provides convincing or morally acceptable support for a belief or action.
日本語:正当化※
“There is no justification for treating people so unkindly.”
“The board requested a detailed justification for the sudden increase in the project budget before they would approve further funding.”
Usage
Often followed by the preposition 'for' or an infinitive 'to'.
02text alignment
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Computing Technical
n. the way lines of text are lined up on the left, right, or both sides of a page.
n. the adjustment of spacing between words or characters so that text is aligned to one or both margins.
Español:justificación
“The document looks more professional with full justification on both sides.”
“The designer argued that left justification improves readability on mobile screens compared to forced full justification.”
Usage
Commonly used with 'left', 'right', or 'full'.
Synonyms
03religious forgiveness
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Religion Formal · Technical
n. the act of being made right with God or having sins forgiven.
n. the action of declaring or making a person righteous in the sight of God.
“The priest spoke about the justification of the soul through faith.”
“The central debate of the Reformation concerned the nature of justification and whether it was achieved through faith alone or through good works.”
Usage
Usually uncountable in this theological context.
Teaching tip
This is a highly specialised term in Christian theology; most learners will only encounter it in academic or religious texts.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “justification” in context.
Verb
01. provide justification
“The department was asked to provide justification for the sudden increase in the project budget.”
verb + noun
Noun
02. justification for
“There is no moral justification for the use of violence against peaceful protesters.”
noun + prep
Real-World Examples
“Academic colleagues have demanded, with justification, that an investigation into his appointment to the faculty of education in 2023, and the subsequent fallout, should include people from outside the university.” “But employment lawyer Sarah Tahamtani says dress codes should be "reasonable, proportionate and capable of justification".” “The risk of cyberbullying is another frequently cited justification for a ban, but Odgers points to studies showing that most children who are being bullied online are also being bullied offline.” Etymology
From Middle English justificacioun, justification, from Middle French justification, from Late Latin iustificationem, justificationem < iustificatio, from iustifico, from Latin iustus.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/justification
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0