Explanation at your level:
You use justify when you want to explain why you did something. If a teacher asks, 'Why are you late?', you say, 'I am sorry, the bus was late.' You are justifying your lateness. It is just a way to give a good reason.
When someone asks you a question about a choice you made, you need to justify it. This means you explain the reason. For example, if you buy an expensive phone, you might justify it by saying it helps you work better. It is about showing your choice is okay.
To justify something is to show that it is reasonable or necessary. We often use it when people doubt us. For example, 'I cannot justify spending so much money on a vacation.' Also, in computer programs, we use it to make text look neat on the page by aligning it to the margins.
The term justify implies a defensive or explanatory stance. It is used when an action is under scrutiny. In academic writing, you must justify your thesis by providing evidence. In typography, it is a technical term for block-aligned text. It is a very useful word for expressing that a decision was not made lightly.
Beyond simple explanation, justify often carries the weight of moral or logical validation. When we say 'the results justify the effort,' we are asserting that the final outcome compensates for the struggle. In a technical sense, it denotes the precise alignment of text blocks, highlighting a balance between aesthetics and structure. It is a staple in professional discourse where accountability is key.
Etymologically, justify bridges the gap between the legalistic 'making right' and the modern 'rationalizing.' It is frequently employed in philosophical discourse regarding ethics—specifically, whether an act can be justified by its consequences. Its usage in typography reflects a similar desire for 'order' and 'alignment.' Mastering this word requires recognizing the nuance between a simple excuse and a rigorous, evidence-based defense of one's position.
30秒でわかる単語
- Means to provide a valid reason for an action.
- Commonly used in professional and academic settings.
- Also refers to aligning text in word processing.
- Rhymes with clarify and verify.
When you justify something, you are essentially building a case for it. Imagine you stayed up late to finish a project; if your boss asks why you are tired, you might explain the hard work you put in. By providing that reason, you are justifying your actions.
In the world of typography and word processing, the word takes on a very specific, physical meaning. When you justify a paragraph, you are telling the computer to stretch the spaces between words so that the text hits both the left and right margins perfectly. It makes documents look very clean and professional.
The word justify has a deep history rooted in Latin. It comes from the combination of justus (meaning 'just' or 'right') and facere (meaning 'to make'). So, literally, it means 'to make right.'
It entered Middle English through Old French in the 13th century. Originally, it had a much stronger legal connotation, often referring to the administration of justice or punishing someone. Over time, the meaning softened from 'making something legally right' to simply 'providing a reasonable excuse' for our daily choices.
You will hear justify most often in professional or argumentative settings. We often use it with actions, decisions, or expenses. For example, 'How can you justify that price?' is a very common way to challenge someone.
In design, you will hear it as a command: 'Please justify the text.' It is a standard term in software like Microsoft Word or Adobe InDesign. It is considered a formal or semi-formal word; in casual conversation, people might just say 'explain' or 'give a reason.'
While 'justify' isn't the core of many idioms, it appears in phrases like 'the ends justify the means', which means a good outcome makes any method used to get there acceptable. Another is 'justify one's existence', which describes proving that one's life or work has value. You might also hear 'self-justifying', describing someone who always finds a way to make themselves look right.
The word is a regular verb. Its forms are justify (present), justified (past), and justifying (participle). The stress is on the first syllable: JUS-ti-fy.
In IPA, it is written as /ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪ/. It rhymes with words like magnify, ratify, certify, clarify, and verify. It is a transitive verb, meaning it almost always needs an object to follow it (e.g., 'justify your answer').
Fun Fact
It once meant to punish someone in a court of law.
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'just-ih-fye'.
Sounds like 'just-uh-fye'.
Common Errors
- Misplacing stress on the last syllable
- Pronouncing the 'i' as an 'e'
- Adding an extra syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Common in news and academic texts.
Essential for formal essays.
Useful in professional debates.
Frequent in business meetings.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
上級
Grammar to Know
Transitive Verbs
I justified the cost.
Gerunds
He justified staying.
Modal Verbs
I must justify it.
Examples by Level
I must justify my answer.
I need to explain my answer.
Modal verb 'must' + base verb.
Please justify your choice.
Please explain why you chose that.
Imperative sentence.
He justified his late arrival.
He explained why he was late.
Past tense verb.
Can you justify this?
Can you explain this?
Simple question.
She tried to justify it.
She tried to give a reason.
Infinitive pattern.
I cannot justify the price.
The price is too high.
Negative modal.
They justified their work.
They explained their hard work.
Simple past.
Is it easy to justify?
Is it easy to explain?
Adjective + infinitive.
I need to justify why I was absent.
She justified her decision to move.
The evidence justifies the conclusion.
Can you justify the extra cost?
He tried to justify his mistake.
The results justify the hard work.
They had to justify their budget.
I cannot justify buying a new car.
The manager asked me to justify the project costs.
Nothing can justify such cruel behavior.
The team justified their strategy with data.
She justified her absence with a doctor's note.
You need to justify why this is necessary.
The software can justify text automatically.
His actions were hard to justify.
I justified my choice by citing research.
The ends do not always justify the means.
She provided facts to justify her argument.
The company struggled to justify the high fees.
The report serves to justify the new policy.
Can you justify your presence here?
The designer chose to justify the paragraph.
It is difficult to justify such a risky move.
The research findings justify further study.
The author attempts to justify his controversial stance.
The expenditure was justified by the increase in sales.
We must justify our actions to the board.
The court found no evidence to justify the arrest.
She justified her absence by citing a family emergency.
The text is justified to improve readability.
The theory is justified by extensive testing.
He sought to justify his life choices.
The moral imperative does not justify the transgression.
The architect justified the structure's placement.
The argument is self-justifying and lacks depth.
The decision was justified on purely pragmatic grounds.
One cannot justify such an omission in a formal report.
The committee requested a justified budget proposal.
The system automatically justifies the margins.
The act was morally justified by the circumstances.
よく使う組み合わせ
Idioms & Expressions
"the ends justify the means"
the outcome is more important than the method
He cheated, believing the ends justify the means.
formal"justify one's existence"
to prove one is useful
He felt he had to justify his existence through work.
literary"self-justifying"
always making excuses for oneself
Stop being so self-justifying and admit it.
casual"hard to justify"
difficult to defend
That price is really hard to justify.
neutral"fully justified"
completely right
Her anger was fully justified.
neutral"attempt to justify"
try to explain
Don't even attempt to justify that.
casualEasily Confused
Both mean explaining.
Rationalize often implies a weak or dishonest excuse.
He rationalized his lie.
Both involve proving.
Validate is about confirming truth; justify is about proving fairness.
Validate your parking ticket.
Both involve protecting.
Defend is physical or verbal; justify is logical.
Defend your territory.
Both are used for reasons.
Explain is neutral; justify is defensive.
Explain the process.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + justify + noun
I justify my actions.
Subject + justify + why-clause
He justified why he left.
Subject + justify + gerund
She justified leaving early.
It is hard to justify + noun
It is hard to justify the cost.
The results justify + noun
The results justify the effort.
語族
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
関連
How to Use It
7/10
Formality Scale
よくある間違い
Justify is transitive and needs an object, not a person.
Use the gerund (-ing) form after justify.
Do not use 'for' after justify.
The noun form usually takes 'for'.
You justify the text, not the margins themselves.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a judge hitting a gavel; you are justifying your case to them.
When Native Speakers Use It
When someone asks 'Why did you do that?', you start with 'I can justify it because...'
Cultural Insight
In Western business, 'justifying' a budget is a standard requirement.
Grammar Shortcut
Remember: Justify + [Action/Decision].
Say It Right
Stress the first syllable: JUS-ti-fy.
Don't Make This Mistake
Avoid saying 'justify me'. Always justify an action.
Did You Know?
It has roots in the word 'justice'.
Study Smart
Practice by writing three sentences about choices you made today.
Typography Tip
Look at the 'Justify' button in your word processor to see it in action.
Noun vs Verb
If you need a noun, use 'justification'.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Just-I-fy: Just I (myself) am right.
Visual Association
A scale balancing a reason on one side and an action on the other.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Try to justify one thing you did today to a friend.
語源
Latin
Original meaning: To make right
文化的な背景
None, but can sound defensive.
Used heavily in legal, academic, and office settings.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At work
- justify the budget
- justify the expense
- justify the delay
In school
- justify your answer
- justify your thesis
- justify the conclusion
In design
- justify the text
- justify to the left
- full justify
In arguments
- how can you justify that
- nothing justifies this
- I can justify my position
Conversation Starters
"How do you justify your spending habits?"
"Can you justify why you chose your current job?"
"Is it ever okay to lie to justify a good outcome?"
"Do you prefer justified or left-aligned text?"
"What is the hardest thing you have ever had to justify?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a decision you made that was hard to justify.
Describe a time you felt your actions were fully justified.
Explain why you think honesty is always justified.
Reflect on a time you had to justify a mistake to someone else.
よくある質問
8 問No, it is a verb. The noun is justification.
No, you justify actions or decisions.
It means to align text to both margins.
JUS-ti-fye.
Yes, it is often used in professional settings.
Justified.
No, that is incorrect grammar.
Yes, especially when discussing money or choices.
自分をテスト
I need to ___ my answer.
You explain an answer.
What does justify mean?
It means to show something is right.
Justify can mean to align text.
Yes, in typography.
Word
意味
Verb and noun pairs.
Standard question order.
The ends ___ the means.
Present tense verb needed.
Which is a synonym for justify?
Vindicate means to prove right.
Justify is a noun.
It is a verb.
His ___ for the action was weak.
Noun needed after 'his'.
What is the adjective form?
Justifiable is the adjective.
スコア： /10
Summary
To justify is to build a logical bridge that makes your actions seem right to others.
- Means to provide a valid reason for an action.
- Commonly used in professional and academic settings.
- Also refers to aligning text in word processing.
- Rhymes with clarify and verify.
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a judge hitting a gavel; you are justifying your case to them.
When Native Speakers Use It
When someone asks 'Why did you do that?', you start with 'I can justify it because...'
Cultural Insight
In Western business, 'justifying' a budget is a standard requirement.
Grammar Shortcut
Remember: Justify + [Action/Decision].
例文
I simply cannot justify spending two hundred dollars on a pair of shoes.
Related Content
動画で見る
1:42
Breaking Bad "I'am the one who knocks" Legendado
"I simply cannot justify spending two hundred dollars on a pair of shoes."
1:03
Princess Mary's children talk about her dedication when preparing speeches and to other royal duties
"I simply cannot justify spending two hundred dollars on a pair of shoes."
Lawの関連語
legal
A2法律で認められている、あるいは法律に関係することを指します。裁判や契約、弁護士など、法的なこと全般に使われます。
arbiter
B2アービター（arbiter）とは、紛争を解決したり、何が正しいかを決定したりする権限を持つ人です。公平な立場の判断者と言えます。
dislegly
C1A test-specific term used to describe something that is not permitted by law or established rules. It characterizes actions, behaviors, or documents that violate a formal code or legal standard within a controlled linguistic simulation.
circumlegic
C1To strategically bypass or interpret around the literal boundaries of a law, regulation, or specific text. This verb describes the act of navigating through complex rules to find an alternative path without strictly violating the letter of the law.
violate
B2To break, disregard, or fail to comply with a law, rule, agreement, or principle. It can also mean to treat a person, place, or thing with disrespect or to disturb someone's privacy or rights.
accomplice
C1An accomplice is a person who helps someone else commit a crime or a dishonest act. This individual is legally or morally responsible for their involvement, even if they were not the primary person performing the act.
adduccide
C1Describing evidence, arguments, or facts that are specifically brought forward or cited as proof in a formal discussion. It characterizes information that is directly relevant and capable of being used to support a specific claim or hypothesis.
nontribment
C1The state or condition of being exempt from a mandatory contribution, tribute, or communal obligation within a structured group. It specifically refers to the formal status of not being required to participate in a shared burden or collective expense.
arraign
C1To call or bring a person before a court to answer a criminal charge. This formal process involves reading the charging document to the defendant in the presence of a judge to inform them of their rights and the accusations against them.
designate
B2誰かや何かを特定の役割や目的のために公式に選ぶこと。正式に任命したり、場所を指定したりする時に使うよ。
