justice

[juhs-tis] /ˈdʒʌs tɪs/
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.
3.
the moral principle determining just conduct.
4.
conformity to this principle, as manifested in conduct; just conduct, dealing, or treatment.
5.
the administering of deserved punishment or reward.
6.
the maintenance or administration of what is just by law, as by judicial or other proceedings:
a court of justice.
7.
judgment of persons or causes by judicial process:
to administer justice in a community.
8.
a judicial officer; a judge or magistrate.
9.
(initial capital letter). Also called Justice Department. the Department of Justice.
Idioms
10.
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.
11.
do justice,
  1. to act or treat justly or fairly.
  2. to appreciate properly:
    We must see this play again to do it justice.
  3. to acquit in accordance with one's abilities or potentialities:
    He finally got a role in which he could do himself justice as an actor.
Origin
1150-1200; Middle English < Old French < Latin jūstitia, equivalent to jūst(us) just1 + -itia -ice
Related forms
justiceless, adjective
Can be confused
judge, justice (see synonym study at judge)

Justice

[juhs-tis] /ˈdʒʌs tɪs/
noun
1.
Donald, born 1925, U.S. poet.
2.
a town in NE Illinois.
Examples from the web for justice
  • The king must also be the defender of the poor and keeper of justice.
  • Anarchism is not the reign of love, but the reign of justice.
  • Crucially, ostracism had no relation to the processes of justice.
  • This sign expresses the perfect harmony of mercy with justice.
  • Usually, compensation and shunning were enough as a form of justice.
  • Nonetheless, the commander retained his role in the administration of justice.
  • The founding fathers maintained the role of the commander in military justice.
British Dictionary definitions for justice

justice

/ˈdʒʌstɪs/
noun
1.
the quality or fact of being just
2.
(ethics)
  1. the principle of fairness that like cases should be treated alike
  2. a particular distribution of benefits and burdens fairly in accordance with a particular conception of what are to count as like cases
  3. the principle that punishment should be proportionate to the offence
3.
the administration of law according to prescribed and accepted principles
4.
conformity to the law; legal validity
5.
a judge of the Supreme Court of Judicature
6.
short for justice of the peace
7.
good reason (esp in the phrase with justice): he was disgusted by their behaviour, and with justice
8.
do justice to
  1. to show to full advantage: the picture did justice to her beauty
  2. to show full appreciation of by action: he did justice to the meal
  3. to treat or judge fairly
9.
do oneself justice, to make full use of one's abilities
10.
bring to justice, to capture, try, and usually punish (a criminal, an outlaw, etc)
Word Origin
C12: from Old French, from Latin jūstitia, from justusjust
Word Origin and History for justice
n.

mid-12c., "the exercise of authority in vindication of right by assigning reward or punishment;" also "quality of being fair and just," from Old French justice "justice, legal rights, jurisdiction" (11c.), from Latin iustitia "righteousness, equity," from iustus "upright, just" (see just (adj.)). The Old French word had widespread senses, including "uprightness, equity, vindication of right, court of justice, judge." The word began to be used in English c.1200 as a title for a judicial officer. Meaning "right order, equity" is late 14c. Justice of the peace first attested early 14c. In the Mercian hymns, Latin iustitia is glossed by Old English rehtwisnisse. To do justice to (someone or something) "render fully and fairly showing due appreciation" is from 1670s.

justice in Culture

Justice definition


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.

justice in the Bible

is rendering to every one that which is his due. It has been distinguished from equity in this respect, that while justice means merely the doing what positive law demands, equity means the doing of what is fair and right in every separate case.

Idioms and Phrases with justice

justice

see: