justice
noun
jus·tice ˈjə-stəs 
plural justices
1
a
: the maintenance or administration of what is just especially by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishments
meting out justice
social justice
b
: judge
especially : a judge of an appellate court or court of last resort (as a supreme court)
a supreme court justice
—used as a title Justice Marshall
c
: the administration of law
a fugitive from justice
especially : the establishment or determination of rights according to the rules of law or equity
a system of justice
2
a
: the quality of being just, impartial, or fair
questioned the justice of their decision
b(1)
: the principle or ideal of just dealing or right action
(2)
: conformity to this principle or ideal : righteousness
the justice of their cause
c
: the quality of conforming to law
3
: conformity to truth, fact, or reason : correctness
admitted that there was much justice in these observations
T. L. Peacock
T. L. Peacock
Synonyms
- equity
- fair shake
- right
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
They received justice in court. the U.S. Department of Justice criminals attempting to escape justice The role of the courts is to dispense justice fairly to everyone. She is a justice of the state supreme court. I saw no justice in the court's decision. We should strive to achieve justice for all people. See More
Recent Examples on the Web Prosecutor Casey Novak’s job was simple — convict bad guys that New York City Police Department detectives had arrested and give rape victims some semblance of justice. Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2022 Smith was arrested and convicted of two misdemeanors following the school board meeting: disorderly conduct and obstruction of justice during the school board meeting. Emma Colton, Fox News, 13 Sep. 2022 Kelly, 55, is on trial in federal court in Chicago on charges of child pornography and obstruction of justice. Safia Samee Ali, NBC News, 12 Sep. 2022 Milliron guilty on charges of being an accessory after the fact to the murder, obstruction of justice, and two counts of perjury before the grand jury. Jennifer Terker, CBS News, 7 Sep. 2022 What is the ritual of justice that takes place at a trial, if not this belief in restoring objective truth, which incidentally doesn’t exist; there is no truth. Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Sep. 2022 As Lear and the status quo devolve into madness, the whole family faces the brutal truth of family dynamics, loyalty, and the existence of justice. Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 5 Sep. 2022 The charges include conspiracy, obstruction of an official proceeding, and obstruction of justice; prosecutors accuse her of destroying and hiding potential evidence and tampering with documents. Peter Weber, The Week, 3 Sep. 2022 The Department of Justice mapped out a strong potential case for obstruction of justice against Trump, experts say. Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2022 See More
Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2022 Smith was arrested and convicted of two misdemeanors following the school board meeting: disorderly conduct and obstruction of justice during the school board meeting. Emma Colton, Fox News, 13 Sep. 2022 Kelly, 55, is on trial in federal court in Chicago on charges of child pornography and obstruction of justice. Safia Samee Ali, NBC News, 12 Sep. 2022 Milliron guilty on charges of being an accessory after the fact to the murder, obstruction of justice, and two counts of perjury before the grand jury. Jennifer Terker, CBS News, 7 Sep. 2022 What is the ritual of justice that takes place at a trial, if not this belief in restoring objective truth, which incidentally doesn’t exist; there is no truth. Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Sep. 2022 As Lear and the status quo devolve into madness, the whole family faces the brutal truth of family dynamics, loyalty, and the existence of justice. Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 5 Sep. 2022 The charges include conspiracy, obstruction of an official proceeding, and obstruction of justice; prosecutors accuse her of destroying and hiding potential evidence and tampering with documents. Peter Weber, The Week, 3 Sep. 2022 The Department of Justice mapped out a strong potential case for obstruction of justice against Trump, experts say. Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French justise, from Latin justitia, from justus — see just entry 1
First Known Use
12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing justice
Kids Definition
justice
noun
jus·tice ˈjəs-təs
1
: fair treatment
Everyone deserves justice.
2
: judge entry 2 sense 1
3
: the process or result of using laws to fairly judge people accused of crimes
4
: the quality of being fair or just
They were treated with justice.
Legal Definition
justice
noun
jus·tice ˈjəs-təs
1
a
: the quality of being just, impartial, or fair
it is not the province of the court to decide upon the justice or injustice…of these laws Scott v. Sanford, 60 U.S. 393 (1857)
Scott v. Sanford, 60 U.S. 393 (1857) b
: the principle or ideal of just dealing
also : conformity to the principle or ideal of just dealing
2
a
: the administration of law
a fugitive from justice
especially : the establishment or determination of rights according to law or equity
system of justice
b
: fair, just, or impartial legal process
courts or tribunals…for the administration of international justice G. R. Winters
G. R. Winters3
: judge
especially : a judge of an appellate court or court of last resort (as a supreme court)
insults to particular justices and threats of civil disobedience were bandied freely R. H. Bork
R. H. Bork justices
noun
as in judges
a public official having authority to decide questions of law a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- judges
- courts
- jurists
- magistrates
- benches
- adjudicators
- auditors
- circuit judges
- chief justices
- squires
- jurisconsults
- beaks
- jurisprudents
- masters
- justices of the peace
