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# justify

verb (justify, justifies, justified, justifying)

«justify» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To give a good reason for something; to show that it is right or fair. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/justify/#m1)
2. To be a good reason for something, as in «Nothing justifies hitting». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/justify/#m2)
3. (computing) To line up text so both edges are straight. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/justify/#m3)

### In the lessons

In maths and science exams: «Justify your answer» means explain your reasoning with facts, numbers or working. In debates and stories: characters justify their actions. Phrases: justify your answer, the ends justify the means.

### Examples

- Justify your answer with a calculation. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/justify/#x1)
- How can you justify spending all your money on sweets? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/justify/#x2)
- Nothing can justify bullying. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/justify/#x3)
- She justified her choice by showing the data. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/justify/#x4)
- Can you justify why 0.5 is bigger than 0.25? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/justify/#x5)
- Justify the text in your report. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/justify/#x6)
- The little boy made no further attempt to justify his conduct. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/justify/#x7)

### Note

Spelling: justify → justifies, justified. Noun: justification. In maths, justifying means showing why, not just repeating the answer.

## In Jewish tradition

In the Torah it means to declare the innocent person in the right, as a court does, not to make excuses. In Job and Isaiah it is used the same way: Job refuses to declare his friends right, and Isaiah condemns judges who acquit the wicked for a bribe.

**Interpretation.** Tradition teaches that a court must acquit the innocent and condemn the guilty. God Himself will not declare the guilty innocent, and judges who take bribes are sharply rebuked.

### Examples

- Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not; for I will not justify the wicked. (Torah EXO.23.7, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/J/justify/#x1)
- If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, and the judges judge them, by justifying the righteous, and condemning the wicked, (Torah DEU.25.1, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/J/justify/#x2)
- If thou hast any thing to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify thee. (Writings JOB.33.32, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/J/justify/#x3)
- That justify the wicked for a reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! (Prophets ISA.5.23, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/J/justify/#x4)
- Far be it from me that I should justify you; till I die I will not put away mine integrity from me. (Writings JOB.27.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/J/justify/#x5)

### Note

Spelling: justify → justifies, justified. Noun: justification. In maths, justifying means showing why, not just repeating the answer.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «justify» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/J/justify/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«justify» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/justify.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «justify» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/J/justify/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«justify» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/justify.html) on Mova free.