# justify

/ˈdʒəstəˌfaɪ/ (US) · /dʒˈʌstɪfˌaɪ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/justify
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to explain or defend

verb · CEFR B2 · Academic

to give a good reason for something that people might think is wrong or unnecessary.

For teachers: to provide a valid reason or explanation for an action or belief, especially one that is questioned.

- The manager had to justify the high cost of the new equipment to the owners.
- The researcher was asked to justify her methodology during the peer-review process to ensure the results were considered credible.

Usage: Often used with a gerund (e.g., 'justify doing something') or a noun phrase.

### 2. to be a good reason for

verb · CEFR B2

to be a strong enough reason to make an action acceptable.

For teachers: to serve as a sufficient warrant or ground for a particular course of action.

- The small increase in speed does not justify the extra risk of an accident.
- The projected increase in long-term revenue may justify the significant initial investment required for the infrastructure project.

### 3. to align text

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to arrange text so that both the left and right sides of the paragraph are straight.

For teachers: to adjust the spaces between words so that lines of type end evenly at both margins.

- You should justify the text in your formal report to make it look professional.
- The designer chose to justify the body text to create a clean, block-like aesthetic for the magazine layout.

Usage: Usually used in the context of word processing or graphic design.

### 4. to prove right in law

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

to show in court that someone had a legal reason for what they did.

For teachers: to demonstrate that a defendant had a sufficient legal reason for an act that is the subject of a charge.

- The lawyer tried to justify his client's actions as self-defense.
- The defendant was able to justify the use of force by proving he was under immediate threat of physical harm.

### 5. to declare free from sin

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal · Literary

to declare that someone is free from guilt or sin.

For teachers: to declare or render as righteous or free from the penalty of sin.

- In many traditions, faith is what justifies a person before God.
- The theological debate centered on whether an individual is justified by their faith alone or through their charitable works.

## Examples

- You need to justify why you spent so much money.
- The manager had to justify the decision to hire more staff during the budget meeting.
- The defense attorney attempted to justify the client's actions by citing extreme emotional distress and a lack of prior criminal history.

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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.