1. show or prove to be right or reasonable: "the person appointed has fully justified our confidence"Similargive grounds forgive reasons forgive a justification forshow just cause forexplaingive an explanation foraccount forshow/prove to be reasonableprovide a rationale forrationalizedefendanswer forvindicatesubstantiateupholdsustainestablishlegitimizelegitimatize
▪ be a good reason for: "the situation was grave enough to justify further investigation"Similarwarrantbe good reason forbe a justification forbear outconfirmvalidate
2. declare or make righteous in the sight of God: "one of the elect, justified by faith"
3. adjust (a line of type or piece of text) so that the print fills a space evenly or forms a straight edge at one or both margins:"in most European languages you justify text by adding space between letters and words"
Word OriginMiddle English (in the senses ‘administer justice to’ and ‘inflict a judicial penalty on’): from Old French justifier, from Christian Latin justificare ‘do justice to’, from Latin justus (see just).
