justification

English

Etymology

From Middle English justificacioun, justification, from Middle French justification, from Late Latin iustificationem, justificationem < iustificatio, from iustifico, from Latin iustus.

Pronunciation

Noun

justification (countable and uncountable, plural justifications)

  1. (countable) A reason, explanation, or excuse which someone believes provides convincing, morally acceptable support for behavior or for a belief or occurrence.
    • 2012 April 19, Josh Halliday, “Free speech haven or lawless cesspool – can the internet be civilised?”, in Alan Rusbridger, editor, The Guardian‎[1], London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 8 May 2025:
      The growing use of social media to spread anger and dissent in the Arab world has been hailed by western governments as one of the chief justifications for a completely unfettered internet. The US is reportedly funding the secret rollout of technology in Iran in an effort to undermine internet censors in the country.
  2. (Christianity, uncountable) The forgiveness of sin.
  3. (typography, uncountable) The alignment of text to the left margin (left justification), the right margin (right justification), or both margins (full justification).

Antonyms

Derived terms

Translations

text alignment

See also

French

Etymology

Inherited from Old French, borrowed from Late Latin justificationem < iustificatio, from iustifico, from Latin iustus.

Pronunciation

Noun

justification f (plural justifications)

  1. justification (reason, excuse, etc.)

Further reading

Middle French

Etymology

From Old French, borrowed from Late Latin iustificationem, justificationem.

Noun

justification f (plural justifications)

  1. justification (all senses)

Descendants

  • → English: justification
  • French: justification
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