# justification

/ˌdʒəstəfəˈkeɪʃən/ (US) · /dʒˌʌstɪfɪkˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/justification
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a reason or excuse

noun · CEFR B2

a good reason or explanation that shows why something is right or fair.

For teachers: a reason, explanation, or excuse that provides convincing or morally acceptable support for a belief or action.

- 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'.

### 2. text alignment

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the way lines of text are lined up on the left, right, or both sides of a page.

For teachers: the adjustment of spacing between words or characters so that text is aligned to one or both margins.

- 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'.

### 3. religious forgiveness

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

the act of being made right with God or having sins forgiven.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- 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.

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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.