To justify a decision, action, or idea means to show or prove that it is reasonable or necessary. No argument can justify a war Ministers agreed that this decision was fully justified by economic conditions
To justify printed text means to adjust the spaces between the words so that each line of type is exactly the same length. Click on this icon to align or justify text. see also left-justify, right-justify
To set type or prepare text composition to a specified width or measurement so that the left and/or right-hand margins of the printed matter will be aligned Justification may be accomplished by adjusting the spacing between words, or between words and characters (letterspacing) so as to fill the measure with each full line of type to top
To bring the significant digits or characters of a quantity into some prescribed position in relation to the boundaries of the field in which it lies, e g , if a quantity is left-justified, then its left most significant digit or character is at the left-hand boundary of the field; to propagate carry from one word of a multiple-length number into the next most significant word
defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning; "rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior"; "he rationalized his lack of success"
Text on the page or in cells or fields can be aligned on the left, in the centre, on the right or on both the left/right at the same time We say the text has been justified This text is left justified in that the text is aligned on the left (it is straight) but ragged on the right Right justified text would be the opposite, straight on the right and ragged on the left
When you are instructed to justify your answer you must prove or show grounds for decisions In such an answer, evidence should be presented in convincing form
adjust the spaces between words; "justify the margins" show to be right by providing justification or proof; "vindicate a claim" show to be reasonable or provide adequate ground for; "The emergency does not warrant all of us buying guns"; "The end justifies the means