justice

[ juhs-tis ]
See synonyms for justice on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness: to uphold the justice of a cause.

  2. rightfulness or lawfulness, as of a claim or title; justness of ground or reason: to complain with justice.

  1. the moral principle determining just conduct.

  2. conformity to this principle, as manifested in conduct; just conduct, dealing, or treatment: Victims of rape and sexual assault have the right to the evidence they need to seek justice.

  3. just treatment of all members of society with regard to a specified public issue, including equitable distribution of resources and participation in decision-making (usually used in combination): Environmental justice means that all people, regardless of race or income, have the right to a clean and healthy environment.A group of moms in the Bridgeton area are advocating for health justice for those living around the landfills.When we speak of climate justice,we demonstrate our sensitivity and resolve to secure the future of poor people from the perils of natural disasters.

  4. the administering of deserved punishment or reward.

  5. the maintenance or administration of what is just by law, as by judicial or other proceedings: a court of justice.

  6. judgment of persons or causes by judicial process: to administer justice in a community.

  7. a judge on a higher court, especially a Supreme Court: the nine justices on the U.S. Supreme Court.

  8. a minor judicial officer or magistrate.

  9. Justice. Also called Justice Department . the Department of Justice.

Idioms about justice

  1. bring to justice, to cause to come before a court for trial or to receive punishment for one's misdeeds: The murderer was brought to justice.

  2. do justice,

    • to act or treat justly or fairly.

    • to appreciate properly: We must see this play again to do it justice.

    • to acquit in accordance with one's abilities or potential: He finally got a role in which he could do himself justice as an actor.

Origin of justice

1
First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin jūstitia, equivalent to jūst(us) just1 + -itia -ice

Other words from justice

  • jus·tice·less, adjective

Other definitions for Justice (2 of 2)

Justice
[ juhs-tis ]

noun
  1. Donald, 1925–2004, U.S. poet.

  2. a town in NE Illinois.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for justice

justice

/ (ˈdʒʌstɪs) /


noun
  1. the quality or fact of being just

  2. ethics

    • the principle of fairness that like cases should be treated alike

    • a particular distribution of benefits and burdens fairly in accordance with a particular conception of what are to count as like cases

    • the principle that punishment should be proportionate to the offence

  1. the administration of law according to prescribed and accepted principles

  2. conformity to the law; legal validity

  3. a judge of the Supreme Court of Judicature

  4. good reason (esp in the phrase with justice): he was disgusted by their behaviour, and with justice

  5. do justice to

    • to show to full advantage: the picture did justice to her beauty

    • to show full appreciation of by action: he did justice to the meal

    • to treat or judge fairly

  6. do oneself justice to make full use of one's abilities

  7. bring to justice to capture, try, and usually punish (a criminal, an outlaw, etc)

Origin of justice

1
C12: from Old French, from Latin jūstitia, from justus just

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for Justice

Justice

A figure in painting and sculpture that symbolizes the impartiality of true justice. The figure of Justice usually appears as a blindfolded woman with a scale in one hand and a sword in the other.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Other Idioms and Phrases with justice

justice

see do justice to; miscarriage of justice; poetic justice.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.