noun
Common
justification
juhs-tih-fih-KAY-shuhn
Justification (noun) means a reason or explanation that shows an action or belief to be reasonable or acceptable. Example: “Is there any justification for charging customers extra when the service has not changed?”
noun
1
A reason or explanation that shows an action or belief to be reasonable or acceptable.
"Is there any justification for charging customers extra when the service has not changed?"
"She couldn't find any justification for the delay."
"The company offered no justification for the layoffs."
2
The alignment of text so its edges line up evenly along a margin.
"Left justification is the default setting in most word processors."
"The newspaper column used full justification, so the right edge looked neat and straight."
"Change the paragraph's justification to full so both margins line up."
How to use justification
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA reason that makes something seem acceptable, or, in typesetting, how text lines up on the page.
Common pairings
without justification
moral justification
text justification
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Word forms
- Plural
- justifications
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Is there any _____ for charging customers extra when the service has not changed?
Etymology
From Late Latin iustificatio, from iustificare, "to make just."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for justification
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for justification →
Frequently asked questions
What does “justification” mean?
The word “justification” means a reason or explanation that shows an action or belief to be reasonable or acceptable. In plain terms, a reason that makes something seem acceptable, or, in typesetting, how text lines up on the page.
How do you pronounce “justification”?
“Justification” is pronounced juhs-tih-fih-KAY-shuhn (/ˌd͡ʒʌstɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “justification” in a sentence?
Here is “justification” used in a sentence: “She couldn't find any justification for the delay.”
What is the opposite of “justification”?
The opposite of “justification” — its antonyms — are condemnation and conviction.
What part of speech is “justification”?
“Justification” is a noun.
Where does the word “justification” come from?
The word “justification” comes from Late Latin. From Late Latin iustificatio, from iustificare, "to make just.".
Is “justification” a common word?
“Justification” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “justification” have?
“Justification” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a reason or explanation that shows an action or belief to be reasonable or acceptable.
What is the difference between justification and an excuse?
A justification is a reason or explanation that shows an action or belief to be reasonable or acceptable, implying the action was actually right or defensible. An excuse, by contrast, often acknowledges a fault while trying to lessen blame, without necessarily claiming the action was correct.
What does justification mean in typography or word processing?
In typography and word processing, justification refers to aligning text so that its edges line up evenly along a margin, most commonly seen as "full justification," where both the left and right edges of a paragraph are flush.
What is the difference between justification and rationale?
Justification and rationale are closely related, but justification tends to emphasize defending or proving an action was acceptable, while rationale more neutrally lays out the underlying reasoning behind a decision.
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