justification
C1formal
Definition
Meaning
A reason, fact, or explanation that shows why something is reasonable, right, or necessary.
1) The action of showing something to be right or reasonable. 2) In typography and word processing, the alignment of text along a margin.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Carries a nuance of proving the correctness or fairness of an action, often in response to criticism or doubt. In theological contexts, it refers to being declared righteous by God.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major semantic differences. In typography, 'justification' is standard in both, but 'full justification' (aligning to both left and right margins) might be specified more often in formal US publishing contexts.
Connotations
Slightly stronger formal/constitutional connotation in British English (e.g., 'justification under common law'). In American English, frequently used in legal and business justifications.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both dialects, with high usage in legal, academic, and professional registers.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
justification for (something)justification of (something/oneself)justification that (clause)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “in justification of”
- “without justification”
- “stand in need of justification”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
A written justification for the budget overrun is required by head office.
Academic
The study's methodological justification was critiqued in the peer review.
Everyday
What's your justification for being two hours late?
Technical
The design document must include a justification for the chosen algorithm.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The minister sought to justify the policy change.
- Can you justify such a large expense?
American English
- The data justifies our investment.
- She had to justify her recommendation to the committee.
adverb
British English
- The costs were justifiably high due to the materials used.
- She was justifiably proud of her team's work.
American English
- He justifiably complained about the poor service.
- The decision was justifiably criticized in the press.
adjective
British English
- His actions were not justifiable under the circumstances.
- A justifiable reason for absence is required.
American English
- The use of force was deemed justifiable.
- They presented justifiable concerns about the timeline.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He gave no justification for being late.
- The teacher asked for a justification for the student's low grades.
- What is the justification for raising the price?
- The report provided solid justification for the proposed changes to the law.
- There seems to be little economic justification for the new tax.
- The defendant's legal team presented a sophisticated justification for his actions, rooted in precedent.
- Any deviation from the standard procedure requires strong ethical justification.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: JUST IF I need a CAUSE, I need a JUSTIFICATION.
Conceptual Metaphor
JUSTIFICATION IS SUPPORT (provide a foundation for an idea), JUSTIFICATION IS A DEFENCE (protect against attack/critique).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating Russian 'оправдание' as 'justification' in all contexts; for 'excuse/alibi', use 'excuse'. In theology, 'оправдание' maps perfectly to 'justification'.
- Do not confuse with 'justifying' text alignment; Russian uses 'выравнивание'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect preposition: 'justification of' vs 'justification for'. 'For' is for the thing being justified (justification for the decision). 'Of' is for the act of justifying (the justification of his actions).
- Spelling: 'justifacation' (incorrect).
- Using as a countable noun when uncountable is needed: 'He gave justifications' (less common) vs 'He gave justification' (more natural).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'justification' used correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A 'justification' attempts to show an action was right or reasonable, often appealing to a higher principle. An 'excuse' admits the action was wrong or undesirable but attempts to remove or lessen blame, often citing external factors.
It is primarily an uncountable noun (e.g., 'There is no justification for this'). It can be used countably when referring to distinct reasons or instances (e.g., 'He offered several justifications'), but this is less common.
Use 'justification for' when stating what is being defended (justification for the war). Use 'justification of' when referring to the act of defending something (the justification of one's beliefs).
Both words stem from the Latin 'justus' meaning 'just' or 'right'. 'Justification' is the process or result of making something conform to what is just or right, while 'justice' is the abstract principle itself.
Collections
Part of a collection
Academic Vocabulary
C1 · 36 words · Formal academic language used in scholarly writing.
Philosophy and Ethics
C1 · 50 words · Philosophical concepts and ethical reasoning.