justifying

Verb

justify (third-person singular simple present justifies, present participle justifying, simple past and past participle justified)

1. (transitive) To provide an acceptable explanation for.
   • How can you justify spending so much money on clothes?
2. (transitive) To be a good reason behind a normally-unacceptable action; to warrant.
   • Nothing can justify your rude behaviour last night.
3. (transitive) To arrange (text) on a page or a computer screen such that the left and right ends of all lines within paragraphs are aligned.
   • The text will look better justified.
4. (transitive) To absolve, and declare to be free of blame or sin.
   • I cannot justify whom the law condemns.1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and...
5. (reflexive) To give reasons for one’s actions; to make an argument to prove that one is in the right.
   • She felt no need to justify herself for deciding not to invite him.
6. (transitive) To prove; to ratify; to confirm.
   • She is not dead at Tarsus, as she should have been,
     By savage Cleon: she shall tell thee all;
     When thou shalt kneel, and justify in knowledge
     She is thy very princess.c. 1607–1608 (date written), William Shakespeare, [George Wilkins?], The Late, and Much Admired Play, Called Pericles, Prince of Tyre. […], London: […] [William White and Thomas Creede] for Henry...

See all 8 meanings of justify