To provide an acceptable explanation for.
What is justify?
• To be a good reason behind a normally-unacceptable action; to warrant.
• To arrange (text) on a page or a computer screen such that the left and right ends of all lines within paragraphs are aligned.
• To absolve, and declare to be free of blame or sin.
• To give reasons for one’s actions; to make an argument to prove that one is in the right.
• To prove; to ratify; to confirm.
• To show (a person) to have had a sufficient legal reason for an act that has been made the subject of a charge or accusation.
• To qualify (oneself) as a surety by taking oath to the ownership of sufficient property.
Why justify matters
justify appears in U.S. legal practice across multiple practice areas. Knowing what it means — and when it applies — can determine the outcome of motions, filings, and negotiations. For non-lawyers, the value of looking up a precise definition is that legal terms often carry meanings that differ from everyday usage; relying on the common meaning can lead to costly missteps.
How justify works in practice
In practice, justify is invoked when parties, judges, or attorneys need to identify the legal status of an issue, the rights of those involved, or the procedural step required next. The definition shown above is sourced from Wiktionary , which is widely cited in U.S. legal practice. Because U.S. law is jurisdictionally layered — federal, state, and sometimes local — the precise application of the term can vary by court, so check the controlling authority for your specific case.