| / English Dictionary |
JUSTIFICATION
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
The act of defending or explaining or making excuses for by reasoning
Example:
the justification of barbarous means by holy ends
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("justification" is a kind of...):
exoneration; vindication (the act of vindicating or defending against criticism or censure etc.)
Derivation:
justify ((used of God) declare innocent; absolve from the penalty of sin)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Something (such as a fact or circumstance) that shows an action to be reasonable or necessary
Example:
he considered misrule a justification for revolution
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Hypernyms ("justification" is a kind of...):
circumstance; condition; consideration (information that should be kept in mind when making a decision)
Derivation:
justify (show to be right by providing justification or proof)
Sense 3
Meaning:
A statement in explanation of some action or belief
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("justification" is a kind of...):
account; explanation (a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "justification"):
cause; grounds; reason (a justification for something existing or happening)
defence; defense; vindication (the justification for some act or belief)
Derivation:
justify (show to be right by providing justification or proof)
Context examples:
Every lingering struggle in his favour grew fainter and fainter; and in farther justification of Mr. Darcy, she could not but allow that Mr. Bingley, when questioned by Jane, had long ago asserted his blamelessness in the affair; that proud and repulsive as were his manners, she had never, in the whole course of their acquaintance—an acquaintance which had latterly brought them much together, and given her a sort of intimacy with his ways—seen anything that betrayed him to be unprincipled or unjust—anything that spoke him of irreligious or immoral habits; that among his own connections he was esteemed and valued—that even Wickham had allowed him merit as a brother, and that she had often heard him speak so affectionately of his sister as to prove him capable of some amiable feeling; that had his actions been what Mr. Wickham represented them, so gross a violation of everything right could hardly have been concealed from the world; and that friendship between a person capable of it, and such an amiable man as Mr. Bingley, was incomprehensible.
(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)
I felt the truth of these words; and I drew from them the certain inference, that if I were so far to forget myself and all the teaching that had ever been instilled into me, as—under any pretext—with any justification—through any temptation—to become the successor of these poor girls, he would one day regard me with the same feeling which now in his mind desecrated their memory.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
Her uncle's displeasure was terrible to her; but what could her justification or her gratitude and attachment do for him?
(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)
"Have you had that, too?" she queried absently, intent on the heaven-sent justification she was finding in his arms.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
Mrs. Jennings, perhaps satisfied with the partial justification of her forebodings which had been found in their late alarm, allowed herself to trust in his judgment, and admitted, with unfeigned joy, and soon with unequivocal cheerfulness, the probability of an entire recovery.
(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)
Later, Ruth's anxiety found justification.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
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