Justify word meaning and definition

[verb] adjust the spaces between words; in printing; "justify the margins"
[verb] defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning; "rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior"; "he rationalized his lack of success"
[verb] show to be right by providing justification or prove; "vindicate a claim"
[verb] show to be reasonable
[verb] let off the hook; "I absolve you from this responsibility"

\Jus"ti*fy\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Justified}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Justifying}.] [F. justifier, L. justificare; justus just + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See {Just}, a., and {-fy}.] 1. To prove or show to be just; to vindicate; to maintain or defend as conformable to law, right, justice, propriety, or duty. That to the height of this great argument I may assert eternal providence, And justify the ways of God to men. --Milton. Unless the oppression is so extreme as to justify revolution, it would not justify the evil of breaking up a government. --E. Everett. 2. To pronounce free from guilt or blame; to declare or prove to have done that which is just, right, proper, etc.; to absolve; to exonerate; to clear. I can not justify whom the law condemns. --Shak. 3. (Theol.) To treat as if righteous and just; to pardon; to exculpate; to absolve. By him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. --Acts xiii. 39. 4. To prove; to ratify; to confirm. [Obs.] --Shak. 5. (Print.) To make even or true, as lines of type, by proper spacing; to adjust, as type. See {Justification}, 4. Syn: To defend; maintain; vindicate; excuse; exculpate; absolve; exonerate.
\Jus"ti*fy\, v. i. 1. (Print.) To form an even surface or true line with something else; to fit exactly. 2. (Law) To take oath to the ownership of property sufficient to qualify one's self as bail or surety.
\Jus"ti*fy\, v. t. (Law)
(a) To show (a person) to have had a sufficient legal reason for an act that has been made the subject of a change or accusation.
(b) To qualify (one's self) as a surely by taking oath to the ownership of sufficient property. The production of bail in court, who there justify themselves against the exception of the plaintiff. --Bouvier's Law Dict.

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