- 1to show that someone or something is right or reasonable justify (somebody/something) doing something How can they justify paying such huge salaries? justify something Her success had justified the faith her teachers had put in her.
- 2justify something/yourself (to somebody) justify (somebody/something) doing something to give an explanation or excuse for something or for doing something synonym defend The Secretary of Education has been asked to justify the decision to Congress. You don't need to justify yourself to me.
- 3justify something (technology) to arrange lines of printed text so that one or both edges are straight Idioms
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NAmE//ˈdʒʌstəˌfaɪ//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they justify he / she / it justifies
past simple justified
-ing form justifying
bad or unfair methods of doing something are acceptable if the result of that action is good or positive
Check pronunciation: justify