Library / English Dictionary

JUSTIFY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected form: justified   

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Adjust the spaces between words

Example:

justify the margins

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "justify" is one way to...):

adjust; correct; set (alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard)

Domain category:

printing (the business of producing printed material for sale or distribution)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Show to be right by providing justification or proof

Example:

vindicate a claim

Synonyms:

justify; vindicate

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "justify" is one way to...):

maintain; uphold (support against an opponent)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "justify"):

excuse; explain (serve as a reason or cause or justification of)

legitimate (show or affirm to be just and legitimate)

warrant (provide adequate grounds to justify (a certain course of action))

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

justifiable (capable of being justified)

justification (something (such as a fact or circumstance) that shows an action to be reasonable or necessary)

justification (a statement in explanation of some action or belief)

justificative (providing justification)

justificative (attempting to justify or defend in speech or writing)

justificatory (providing justification)

justificatory (attempting to justify or defend in speech or writing)

justifier (a person who argues to defend or justify some policy or institution)

Sense 3

Meaning:

(used of God) declare innocent; absolve from the penalty of sin

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "justify" is one way to...):

absolve; free (let off the hook)

Domain category:

theological system; theology (a particular system or school of religious beliefs and teachings)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody of something

Derivation:

justification (the act of defending or explaining or making excuses for by reasoning)

justificative; justificatory (providing justification)

Credits

 Context examples: 

You know her disposition, and may believe how eagerly she would still justify him if she could.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Aylward's words were speedily justified, for even as he spoke the two knights met in the centre of the lists.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Nothing occurred between them that could justify the hopes of his sister.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Now, Dr. Sterndale, how do you justify such conduct, and what were the motives for your actions?

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

His reasoning was justified, for the boat rushed at once into the wind and the hunter sprang aft to take the boat-steerer’s place.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

My fear was justified when I saw the same cart which had passed before coming down the road, having on it some great wooden boxes.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

He was justifying his existence, than which life can do no greater; for life achieves its summit when it does to the uttermost that which it was equipped to do.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

“Which were very well justified,” observed Holmes.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

You perhaps will find some means to justify my poor guiltless Justine.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

The researchers caution their studies don't justify or demonstrate the value of using commercially available sulforaphane supplements to treat or prevent schizophrenia.

(Key to Treating Schizophrenia May Be Found in Broccoli, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)