ˌjəstəfə̇ˈkāshən noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English justificacioun, from Late Latin justification-, justificatio, from justificatus (past participle of justificare to justify) + -ion-, io -ion
1.
a. : the act, process, or state of being justified by God
b. : the terms under which one is so justified
2.
a.
(1) : the act or an instance of justifying : vindication , defense
the justification of barbarous means by holy ends — H.J.Muller
(2) : the condition of being justified
doubted the historical justification of the Confiteor … in any Lutheran liturgy — S.G.Hefelbower
(3) : something that justifies
finds in it the justification … of his own work — A.P.d'Entrèves
its only logical justification would have been swift military success — Hugh Gaitskell
b.
(1) : the showing in court of a sufficient lawful reason why a party charged or accused did or failed to do that for which he is called to answer
(2) : something that constitutes such a reason
(3) : the justifying of sureties (as on a bail bond)
c. : the act or an instance of verifying or proving
the purpose of justification is to produce conviction in the hearer — John Ladd
3. : the process or result of justifying (as a line of type)