/ ˈdʒʌstɪs; NAmE / noun
1.
[ U ] the fair treatment of people :
laws based on the principles of justice
They are demanding equal rights and justice.
OPP injustice
—see also poetic justice , rough justice
2.
[ U ] the quality of being fair or reasonable :
Who can deny the justice of their cause?
OPP injustice
3.
[ U ] the legal system used to punish people who have committed crimes :
the criminal justice system
The European Court of Justice
( BrE )
They were accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice .
( NAmE )
They were accused of attempting to obstruct justice .
—see also miscarriage of justice
4.
(also Just·ice ) [ C ] ( NAmE ) a judge in a court (also used before the name of a judge)
—see also chief justice
5.
Just·ice [ C ] ( BrE , CanE ) used before the name of a judge in a court of appeal :
Mr Justice Davies
•
IDIOMS
- bring sb to justice
- do justice to sb / sth; do sb/sth justice
- do yourself justice
—more at pervert verb
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Old English iustise administration of the law , via Old French from Latin justitia , from justus , from jus law, right.