justification
n. C / Un. a good reason or explanation for why something is right or necessary. You use this when you need to prove that an action or belief is fair.
n. a reason, fact, or circumstance that explains or defends an action, belief, or decision. Often used in legal, ethical, or academic contexts to establish the validity of a claim.
There is no justification for such rude behavior.
The manager provided a detailed justification for the budget increase, citing the rising costs of raw materials.
The philosopher argued that the moral justification for the law rested on its ability to protect the most vulnerable members of society from exploitation.
From Middle English justificacioun, justification, from Middle French justification, from Late Latin iustificationem, justificationem < iustificatio, from iustifico, from Latin iustus.
Often followed by the preposition 'for' when identifying the action being defended.
the justification of his behaviorthe justification for his behaviorWhile 'of' is used for the person giving the reason, 'for' is the standard preposition used to link the justification to the action it explains.