LookItUp

justify

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /ˈdʒʌstəfaɪ/ · UK /ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪ/

Forms: justifies, justifying, justified

justify means: If you do this, you explain why an action or decision was right or necessary.

verb

EXPLAIN WHYB2

If you do this, you explain why an action or decision was right or necessary.

  • Can you justify your decision?
  • She justified the expense by explaining its benefits.
  • They could not justify spending so much on decorations.

How to use it: justify doing something (How can you justify buying another car?); justify something to someone (He justified his decision to the manager.)

Similar words: defend, explain

Common phrases: justify a decision, justify something to someone, justify spending money, justify an expense

MAKE ACCEPTABLEB2

If a result does this, it makes a bad way of achieving it seem acceptable.

  • Does success justify dishonest methods?
  • A good result does not always justify the means.
  • He thought winning justified the lies he told.

Similar words: warrant

Common phrases: justify the means, justify bad methods, justify an action, justify rude behavior

ALIGN TEXTC1

To arrange writing so that both edges of the lines are straight.

  • Please justify the text.
  • She justified every paragraph in the report.
  • Can this editor justify text automatically?

Common phrases: justify text, justify a paragraph

Questions about justify

What does justify mean?

If you do this, you explain why an action or decision was right or necessary.

What is justify in other languages?

Türkçe: haklı göstermek · Español: justificar · Français: justifier · Deutsch: rechtfertigen · Italiano: giustificare · 日本語: 正当化する

How do you pronounce justify?

In American English /ˈdʒʌstəfaɪ/; in British English /ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪ/.

How do you use justify in a sentence?

Can you justify your decision? She justified the expense by explaining its benefits.

Learn justify while you read

LookItUp shows the meaning that fits your sentence, in your language, and turns new words into quick practice cards.

Coming soon on the App Store LookItUp app for iPhone and iPad

justify in other languages

More words