JUSTIFICATION

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does justification mean? 

• JUSTIFICATION (noun)
  The noun JUSTIFICATION has 3 senses:

1. something (such as a fact or circumstance) that shows an action to be reasonable or necessary

2. a statement in explanation of some action or belief

3. the act of defending or explaining or making excuses for by reasoning

  Familiarity information: JUSTIFICATION used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• JUSTIFICATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Something (such as a fact or circumstance) that shows an action to be reasonable or necessary

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Context example:

he considered misrule a justification for revolution

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 2

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)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The act of defending or explaining or making excuses for by reasoning

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

the justification of barbarous means by holy ends

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)

 Context examples 

With time for quiet thinking, you can more effectively present the justification for your raise as you near the full moon in your salary sector on November 12.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

The profession, either navy or army, is its own justification.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

But a justification so full of torture to herself, she trusted, would not be in his power.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

I will tell her all that is necessary to what may comparatively be called, your justification.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

At such moments she found justification for her treason to her standards, for her violation of her own high ideals, and, most of all, for her tacit disobedience to her mother and father.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

The CCGA application (Form PHS-398) requests documentation on the qualifications of the principal investigators and associates, pertinent budget information and justification for the support of this proposed grant.

(Cancer Center Support Grant Application, NCI Thesaurus)

There are some laws and customs in this empire very peculiar; and if they were not so directly contrary to those of my own dear country, I should be tempted to say a little in their justification.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

The findings of the 'Biorisk' experiment are not only of significant scientific interest, but also invaluable from the practical point of view for the justification of the planetary quarantine strategy during future interplanetary flights, the report said.

(Mutated Terrestrial Bacteria That Return from Space Pose Threat to Life on Earth, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

It was my business to visit this little-known back-country and to examine its fauna, which furnished me with the materials for several chapters for that great and monumental work upon zoology which will be my life's justification.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

If he had retorted or openly exasperated me, it would have been a relief and a justification; but he had put me on a slow fire, on which I lay tormented half the night.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)