Definition

Noun 1. The quality of being just or fair; fairness, justice. Justness refers to the state or characteristic of acting or being in accordance with what is morally right, equitable, or impartial. 2. Conformity with some aesthetic standard of correctness or propriety; appropriateness, rightness. Justness can also describe the quality of being suitable, fitting, or correct in a particular context, often relating to artistic or formal standards.

Usage Examples

• In the context of fairness:
  • The judge was respected for the justness of her verdicts.
  • He argued for the justness of the new policy, claiming it treated everyone equally.
• In the context of aesthetic or formal correctness:
  • The critic praised the justness of the actor's portrayal.
  • The justness of the architectural proportions contributed to the building's harmony.

Advanced Usage

• "Poetic justness": Often used in literary criticism to describe the fitting or morally appropriate outcome of a narrative.
  • The novel's ending had a poetic justness that satisfied the readers.
• "Inherent justness": Used to describe a quality of fairness that is fundamental to an idea or system.
  • They believed in the inherent justness of their cause.

Variants and Related Words

• Just (adjective): Based on or behaving according to what is morally right and fair; also, exactly right or appropriate.
  • A just decision; a just remark.
• Justice (noun): The broader concept of just behavior or treatment; the administration of law.
  • The fight for social justice.
• Justify (verb): To show or prove to be right, reasonable, or fair.
  • Can you justify your actions?

Synonyms

• Fairness: Impartial and just treatment without favoritism or discrimination.
• Equity: The quality of being fair and impartial.
• Rightness: The quality or state of being morally or factually correct.
• Propriety: Conformity to conventionally accepted standards of behavior or morals.

Antonyms

• Unfairness: Lack of justice or equity.
• Injustice: Lack of fairness or justice.
• Impropriety: Failure to observe standards of behavior.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• "A sense of justness": Refers to an individual's innate feeling for what is fair and right.
  • Her strong sense of justness compelled her to speak up.
• "With justness": An adverbial phrase meaning in a fair, correct, or appropriate manner.
  • The matter was resolved with justness and finality.

Noun

1. the quality of being just or fair
2. conformity with some esthetic standard of correctness or propriety
   • it was performed with justness and beauty