Justify Definition & Meaning

The verb "justify" has a few related meanings, generally revolving around providing a valid reason or explanation for something:

• To Show or Prove to be Right or Just: When you justify something, you provide reasons or evidence to demonstrate that it is right, fair, or justifiable. This can apply to actions, decisions, beliefs, or opinions. For example, if you justify a decision, you explain why it was the right or best choice.

• To Align or Adjust: In a formatting or alignment context, such as in document formatting or typesetting, "justify" refers to aligning text or margins so that both the left and right edges are straight. This is often called "justified text."

Here's a sentence using "justify" in the first sense:

• "She had to justify her choice by outlining the benefits it would bring to the team."

In this example, "justify" is used to convey the idea that she needed to explain or provide reasons for her decision to demonstrate its correctness or appropriateness.