Justice Meaning
/ˈd͡ʒʌs.tɪs/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe state or characteristic of being just or fair.
nounThe ideal of fairness, impartiality, etc., especially with regard to the punishment of wrongdoing.
Sentence Examples
Don't you have a sense of justice?
Portia tempered justice with mercy.
She spent her life fighting for social justice and equality for women.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The judge ensured that ____ was served by punishing the guilty and freeing the innocent.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The goal of the legal system is to ensure that ____ is served and that the guilty are punished fairly.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English justice, from Old French justise, justice (Modern French justice), from Latin iūstitia (“righteousness, equity”), from iūstus (“just”), from iūs (“right”), from Proto-Italic *jowos, perhaps literally "sacred formula", a word peculiar to Latin (not general Italic) that originated in the religious cults, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂yew-. Doublet of Justitia. Partly displaced native Old English rihtwīsnes (Modern English righteousness < rightwiseness).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"This even-handed justice / Commends the ingredients of our poisoned chalice / To our own lips."
— c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene vii]:
"God recognized the justice of the moon's plea and compensated for its diminution by promising that only the moon would be seen both day and night."
— 2001, David L. Lieber, Jules Harlow, Etz Hayim: Torah and Commentary, page 8:
"Gee, I guess that’s up to the justices. Can’t imagine this court — which I find too conservative but not crazy — is going to issue a ruling that says a president can break any law in the land as an “official act” without consequence."
— 2024 March 4, Gail Collins, Bret Stephens, “Trump Is the Leading Man”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
"As to Perſons of Quality, they give Security to appropriate a certain Sum for each Child, ſuitable to their Condition; and theſe Funds are always managed with good Husbandry and the moſt exact Juſtice."
— 1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “Of the Inhabitants of Lilliput; […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume I, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part I (A Voyage to Lilliput), pages 106–107:
"Justice, the elder, was his only son and heir to the Great Place, and Nomafu was the regent's daughter."
— 1994, Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom, Abacus, published 1995, →ISBN, page 21:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The judge ensured that ____ was served by punishing the guilty and freeing the innocent.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The goal of the legal system is to ensure that ____ is served and that the guilty are punished fairly.