justified

adjective

jus·​ti·​fied ˈjə-stə-ˌfīd How to pronounce justified (audio)
1
: having or shown to have a just, right, or reasonable basis
a justified punishment
a justified reputation for toughness
Such work calls for a combination of training and talent that few can lay justified claim to …Bernard Knox
2
typography
a
: aligned evenly at the margin
a justified line of text
In justified composition, where the type must be flush with both the left and right margins, the machine will automatically expand or condense the word space or hyphenate end-of-line words to fill up the line measure.Ray Blair and Thomas M. Destree
b
: made even by spacing lines of text
a document with justified margins

Examples of justified in a Sentence

in a well-justified ruling the court voted unanimously to overturn the law the use of force to capture the armed fugitive was fully justified
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The other draft order, the one disbanding the Iraqi army, also seemed justified to Bremer, Slocombe, and Feith in light of the on-the-ground reality. Garrett M. Graff, Foreign Affairs, 5 May 2023 Israel says its military operations are justified and are necessary to defend itself. Tia Goldenberg, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2024 Meanwhile, Norwood’s wide-eyed reactions to the jaw-dropping boldness of Solange’s antics serve as a potent grounding agent, leaving her in a wholly justified state of perpetual shock . Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2024 Black and brown people, especially in more rural and suburban areas, are now operating with a level of hyper vigilance, having a justified paranoia that violence could descend on them at any time. Banseka Kayembe, refinery29.com, 9 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for justified 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of justified was circa 1586

Dictionary Entries Near justified

Cite this Entry

“Justified.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/justified. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on justified

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