justify
gb/d͡ʒˈʌstɪfˌaɪ/ us/d͡ʒˈʌstɪfˌaɪ/
B1
English
~ 2300
megindokol, igazol, sorkizártra igazít
VERB
B1
1
megindokol
B1
igazol
B1
Usage pattern:
to justify [something]
She tried to justify her lateness by blaming the traffic.
Az út forgalmára hivatkozva próbálta megindokolni a késését.
The company must justify its expenses to the board.
A vállalatnak meg kell indokolnia a kiadásait az igazgatótanács előtt.
He couldn't justify his rude behavior to his friends.
The teacher asked him to justify his answer with evidence.
Learner examples
I can justify my choice.
Meg tudom indokolni a választásomat.
She justified her actions.
Megindokolta a tetteit.
They justified the high price.
He justified being late.
You must justify your opinion.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'justify' with 'clarify'. 'Justify' means to prove something is right, not just to make it easier to understand.
Meaning
Give reasons for actions
Collocations
justify a decision
|justify an action
|justify the cost
|justify the means
|justify oneself
Synonyms
defend (Emphasizes protecting an action or belief against criticism.)
|
explain (Focuses on making the reasons clear, without necessarily proving correctness.)
Antonyms
condemn (Means to strongly disapprove or denounce something as wrong.)
Themes
communication
|law
|ethics
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To explain why something is right or fair.
To show or prove that an action, decision, or idea is right or reasonable.
VERB
B2
TECHNICAL
2
Usage pattern:
to justify [text]
Please justify the text so it looks neat.
Kérlek, igazítsd sorkizártra a szöveget, hogy rendezett legyen.
The designer decided to fully justify the paragraphs.
A tervező úgy döntött, hogy teljesen sorkizártra igazítja a bekezdéseket.
Left-justified text is easier to read online than fully justified text.
Learner examples
I will justify the text.
Sorkizártra fogom igazítani a szöveget.
The book has justified pages.
A könyv oldalai sorkizárt szedésűek.
Please justify this paragraph.
Common mistake:
Some learners think 'justify' in this context means to explain something; here it is about formatting text.
Meaning
Align text margins
Collocations
fully justify text
|left justify
|right justify
|justify paragraphs
Synonyms
align (A broader term for arranging elements in line; not limited to text.)
Antonyms
rag (In typography, to leave one margin uneven.)
Themes
technology
|design
|printing
|communication
Definition
To change writing so the sides are straight on both left and right.
In word processing or printing, to adjust spacing so that text is evenly aligned along both the left and right margins.
Grammar
Dictionary form
justify
IPA
GB/d͡ʒˈʌstɪfˌaɪ/
US/d͡ʒˈʌstɪfˌaɪ/
Syllables & stress
jus - ti - fy (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (jus)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: justify
- 3rd Person Singular: justifies
- Present Participle: justifying
- Past: justified
Word family
Forms
justifies
verb
justifying
verb
justified
verb
Core family
Negative and opposite forms
unjustified
adjective
unjustifiable
adjective
unjustifiably
adverb
Expressions
justify oneself
1/d͡ʒˈʌstɪfˌaɪ wˌʌnsˈɛlf/
fixed phrase
Explain own actions
To explain why you did something so people do not think it was wrong.
Examples
- She felt she had to justify herself after the criticism.
- He quickly justified himself when asked about the delay.
justify the means
1/d͡ʒˈʌstɪfˌaɪ ðə mˈinz/
fixed phrase
Make methods acceptable by results
To say that the way something was done is okay because of the good result.
Examples
- They believe the ends justify the means in politics.
- He argued that saving lives justifies the means used.