justifiablejus‧ti‧fi‧a‧ble /ˈdʒʌstəfaɪəbəl/ AWL adjective 
- Can violence ever be a justifiable method of protest?
- Is football a justifiable expense when the college cannot afford enough English classes to meet students' needs?
- Reed said the tax increases were not only justifiable, but unavoidable.
when it is right or reasonable to do something► right use this to talk about what someone has done or may do, to say that you agree with it because it seems fair or reasonable: right to do something: · You were right to complain - the food was cold.· The screenwriter was right to focus on just one aspect of a long and complicated novel.the right thing to do: · I took a pay cut to come here, but I'm sure it was the right thing to do.do the right thing: · Do the right thing - turn off the TV and get the kids playing outside.
► justified if you say that someone is justified in doing something, or that something they do is justified , you believe what they do is reasonable in that situation: · I don't think Colin's criticisms were really justified.be/feel justified in doing something: · The government feels justified in using military force to protect its own citizens.· The landlord may be justified in charging for any additional work that needs to be done.
► reasonable if an action is reasonable , it is fair and sensible: · Campaigners say that there is no reasonable objection to women becoming priests.it is reasonable to do something: · It is reasonable to expect members to pay a small fee.· It is reasonable to assume watching a lot of television at an early age interferes with development.it is reasonable that: · It is reasonable that a prospective employer should want to know if someone has a criminal record.
► I don't blame somebody spoken informal say this when you can understand why someone has behaved in a particular way, and you think they were right: · "Sheila's left her husband." "Well, I don't blame her!"I don't blame sb for (doing) something: · I don't blame you for losing your temper with Ann.· It may have been a joke, but you can't blame the women in the department for being angry.
► justifiable a justifiable feeling, action, or reaction is acceptable because there is a good reason for it: · Can violence ever be a justifiable method of protest?· Reed said the tax increases were not only justifiable, but unavoidable.· Is football a justifiable expense when the college cannot afford enough English classes to meet students' needs?
► legitimate fair, correct, or reasonable according to accepted rules, facts, or standards of behaviour: · He had a legitimate reason for being late.· The way governments treat their people is a legitimate concern for the international community.it is legitimate to do something: · It is legitimate to suggest that taxes should affect people with higher incomes more than they affect poorer people.
► economically/commercially justifiableNOUN► reason· These employees may only be handled differently when the employer has a justifiable reason.· If a professor fails to meet his classes without a justifiable reason, his salary is accordingly reduced.· There was no justifiable reason for differential treatment of the part-time employees concerning the increase in salary and reduction in work hours.· All 67 have been blacklisted, and for entirely justifiable reasons.
adjectivejustifiable ≠ unjustifiablejustified ≠ unjustifiednounjustificationverbjustifyadverbjustifiably ≠ unjustifiably
justifiable angereconomically/commercially justifiable