verb
justify
JUHS-tih-feye
verb
1
To give a good reason or explanation for something.
"He struggled to justify the huge expense to his boss."
"Can you justify skipping the meeting?"
2
To arrange text so that its lines align evenly along a margin or margins.
"Justify the paragraph so it looks tidier on the page."
How to Use Justify
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo explain or defend a decision as reasonable, or to line text up neatly on a page.
Common pairings
justify a decision
justify the cost
justify text
Word Forms
justified past tense, justifies singular
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Etymology
From Old French justifier, from Late Latin justificare, "to make just," combining iustus, "just," with facere, "to make."