Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having adequate or legitimate reason; shown to be right or reasonable: Describes an action, belief, or feeling that is supported by good reasons or evidence.
   • (In typography) Having words so spaced that lines have straight even margins: Describes text that is aligned evenly on both the left and right sides.

Usage

• The adjective "justified" is used to describe a state of being right or reasonable. It often follows linking verbs like "be," "feel," or "seem."
• In publishing and word processing, it describes a specific style of text alignment.

Examples

• General Meaning:
  • The manager's decision was justified by the employee's repeated misconduct.
  • She felt justified in asking for a refund because the product was defective.
• Typography Meaning:
  • For a formal look, the document text was set to be fully justified.
  • The justified margins of the book gave it a clean, professional appearance.

Advanced Usage

• "to be justified in doing something": To have a valid reason for a particular action.
  • After the warning, the teacher was justified in giving the student a detention.
• "morally justified": Considered right according to ethical principles.
  • Some argue that civil disobedience is morally justified under an unjust regime.

Variants and Related Words

• Justify (verb): To show or prove to be right or reasonable; to align text.
  • He tried to justify his actions.
  • You can justify the text by clicking this button.
• Justifiable (adjective): Able to be shown to be right or reasonable.
  • It was a justifiable expense for the project.
• Justification (noun): The action of showing something to be right or reasonable; the reason given.
  • What is your justification for this claim?

Synonyms

• Warranted: Justified or necessitated by the circumstances.
• Valid: Having a sound basis in logic or fact; legally or officially acceptable.
• Legitimate: Conforming to the law or to rules; able to be defended with logic or justification.

Antonyms

• Unjustified: Not shown to be right or reasonable.
• Unwarranted: Not justified or authorized.

Related Phrases

• "justified anger/concern": Anger or concern that is reasonable given the circumstances.
  • The public's justified anger led to a policy change.
• "left-justified" / "right-justified": (Typography) Terms for text aligned only on the left or right margin, respectively.
  • The headings were left-justified, while the numbers were right-justified.

Adjective

1. having words so spaced that lines have straight even margins