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rechtfertigen — meaning in English

German → English · translate English → German instead

English meaning

  • justify verb To give a good reason or explanation for something.
  • rationalize verb To make something rational, logical, or more efficient — often by removing unnecessary parts.
  • vindicate verb To clear of an accusation, suspicion or criticism.

Senses

rechtfertigen is used for these senses in English:

  • rationalize To justify a discreditable act, or irrational behaviour.
  • vindicate (transitive) To clear of an accusation, suspicion or criticism.
  • vindicate (transitive) To justify by providing evidence.
  • vindicate (transitive) To lay claim to; to assert a right to; to claim.

justify — full definition

  1. verb To give a good reason or explanation for something.
  2. verb To arrange text so that its lines align evenly along a margin or margins.

rationalize — full definition

  1. verb To make something rational, logical, or more efficient — often by removing unnecessary parts.
  2. verb To invent a reasonable-sounding excuse for behavior that was really driven by something less flattering.

Related German words