justification
NounOpen English WordNet
Noun (3)
- something (such as a fact or circumstance) that shows an action to be reasonable or necessary“he considered misrule a justification for revolution”Type of circumstance, condition
- a statement in explanation of some action or beliefType of explanation, accountKinds cause, defense
- the act of defending or explaining or making excuses for by reasoning“the justification of barbarous means by holy ends — H.J.Muller”Type of vindication, exoneration
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: L. justificatio: cf. F. justification. See Justify.
1. The act of justifying or the state of being justified; a showing or proving to be just or conformable to law, justice, right, or duty; defense; vindication; support; as, arguments in justification of the prisoner's conduct; his disobedience admits justification.
I hope, for my brother's justification, he wrote this but as an essay or taste of my virtue.— William Shakespeare
2. Law The showing in court of a sufficient lawful reason why a party charged or accused did that for which he is called to answer.
3. Theology The act of justifying, or the state of being justified, in respect to God's requirements.
Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.— Rom. iv. 25.
In such righteousness To them by faith imputed, they may find Justification toward God, and peace Of conscience.— John Milton
4. Printing Adjustment of type (in printing), or of the final spacing of printed text, by spacing it so as to make it exactly fill a line, or line up at one edge of the allotted portion of the printed page; adjustment of a cut so as to hold it in the right place; also, the leads, quads, etc., used for making such adjustment; as, left justification is the most common format for simple letters, but left and right justification is typically used in books.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54