justify
To provide an acceptable explanation for.
Verb 4 meanings
To provide an acceptable explanation for.
“How can you justify spending so much money on clothes?”
To be a good reason behind a normally-unacceptable action; to warrant.
“Nothing can justify your rude behaviour last night.”
To arrange (text) on a page or a computer screen such that the left and right ends of all lines within paragraphs are aligned.
“The text will look better justified.”
To absolve, and declare to be free of blame or sin.
Etymology
From Middle English justifien, from Old French justifier, from Late Latin justificare (“make just”), from Latin justus, iustus (“just”) + ficare (“make”), from facere, equivalent to just + -ify.
Similar and opposite words
JUSTIFY at a glance
JUSTIFY has 7 letters and scores 20 points in Scrabble (J 8 + U 1 + S 1 + T 1 + I 1 + F 4 + Y 4) and 22 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #5,605 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with justify
All rhymes- IDENTIFY15
- QUALIFY22
- VERIFY15
- CLARIFY15
- TESTIFY13
- MODIFY15
- SPECIFY17
- NOTIFY12
- SIMPLIFY18
- CLASSIFY16
- QUANTIFY23
- SIGNIFY14
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