jus·ti·fy [jústi f] (past jus·ti·fied, past participle jus·ti·fied, present participle jus·ti·fy·ing, 3rd person present singular jus·ti·fies) transitive verb

1. make reasonable: to serve as an acceptable reason or excuse for something (often passive)

2. give somebody reason: to give somebody an acceptable reason for taking a particular action (often passive)

3. explain: to give a reason or explanation why something was done

4. PRINTING align margins of: to adjust the lengths of spaces between and within words in text in order to make both the left and right margins align

5. CHRISTIANITY free from sin: to free somebody from sinfulness through faith in Jesus Christ or by the grace of Jesus Christ

6. LAW give legal reason for: to provide a good reason in law for something, especially for committing the offense that is the subject of a criminal charge

 

[14th century. Via French justifier from Latin justificare "to act justly, justify," from Latin justus " just ."]