jus·ti·fy
(jŭśtə-fī́)
[Middle English justifien, from Old French justifier, from Late Latin iūstificāre, from Latin, to act justly toward, iūstus, just; see just1, + -ficāre, -fy.]
verb: -fied, -fy·ing, -fies.
transitive verb
- To demonstrate or prove to be just, right, or valid: justified each budgetary expense as necessary; anger that is justified by the circumstances.
- To declare free of blame; absolve.
- To free (a human) of the guilt and penalty attached to grievous sin. Used of God.
- Law
- To demonstrate sufficient legal reason for (an action taken).
- To prove to be qualified as a bondsman.
- Printing To adjust the spacing within (lines in a document, for example), so that the lines end evenly at a straight margin.
intransitive verb
Printing
- To be adjusted in spacing so as to end evenly at the margin.
synonyms:
justify, warrant These verbs mean to be a proper or sufficient reason for: an outburst justified by extreme provocation; drastic measures not warranted by the circumstances.
