justify

Word family

jus·ti·fy /ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪ/ S3 W3 AWL verb (justified, justifying, justifies) [transitiveT]

1 REASONto give an acceptable explanation for something that other people think is unreasonable 证明〔别人认为不合理的事〕有道理；为…辩护

Ministers must appear before Parliament and justify their actions.

大臣们必须就自己的行为向议会作出解释。

justify doing something

How can we justify spending so much money on arms?

我们怎么才能解释花那么多钱购买武器是正当的呢？

justify yourself (=prove that what you are doing is reasonable) 为自己辩解

I don’t have to justify myself to you or anyone else.

我不需要为我的行为向你或任何人解释。

2 RIGHT/JUSTIFIEDto be a good and acceptable reason for something 是…的正当理由

Nothing justifies murdering another human being.

什么都不能成为谋杀他人的正当理由。

3. technical to arrange lines of words on a page or computer screen so that they form a straight edge on both the right and left sides 使齐行，使排齐

Examples from the Corpus

justify• No matter what the circumstances, street violence cannot be justified.• Torcuato is a murderer, but his crime can be justified.• How can you justify a 200% pay rise!• How can you possibly justify charging four pounds for a glass of beer.• I don't think anyone can justify spending so much money on weapons.• There is not enough evidence to justify such accusations.• People try to justify the breakdown of their marriage by blaming their spouse.• The issue is whether the benefits justify the costs.• How can you justify the expense?

justify yourself• I gather the decision has barely justified itself.• Why should we try to justify ourselves according to the breeder standards?• Governments interested in publicity and propaganda have published much under the impulse of the urge to justify themselves and vilify their opponents.• An economic system justifies itself by pointing to the wealth it produces, and an educational establishment to skills and knowledge.• And what do I usually do but justify myself, like a fool.• Why was she justifying herself so, I wondered.• I won't have staff justifying themselves to me.• Speakers also justify themselves to those who might be perceived as being similar to the self.

Origin justify

(1300-1400) French justifier, from Late Latin justificare, from Latin justus; → JUST2

jus·ti·fy verb

Chinese

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Corpus