justified

USAGE SUMMARY

"justified" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use "justified" when you are explaining that something is reasonable or moral. For example: "The decision to take the day off work was justified due to the severe storm."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

His selection of Andy Carroll was justified with the opening goal and, though Olof Mellberg's double reminds us this is still very much a work in progress, England have put themselves in a position of strength going into their final game in Donetsk on Tuesday.

The Guardian - Sport

For them, property rights are human inventions that must be justified by the sort of society they produce.

The Guardian - Opinion

A poll published by the Israel Democracy Institute found that 92% of Jewish Israelis believed the war was justified.

The Guardian

The consultation paper also says that state surveillance of the internet must be the exception rather than the norm, and "must only take place where it is clearly justified for the protection of the public and in accordance with the fundamental principles of necessity and proportionality".

The Guardian - Tech

(Anything can be justified by claiming tradition and economic benefits).

The Guardian - Opinion

That only leaves the one group of people who would be entirely justified in striking: the fans.

The Guardian - Sport

In the higher education context where discussion, debate and criticism are encouraged, behaviours directed at undermining another individual can be more easily justified as part of the job.

The Guardian

Kavanagh and Henry weighed in to explain why Kelvin had felt justified in doing so.

The Guardian

The low bar for incentive payouts is justified due to Camden's dire circumstances, said Timothy Lizura, president of the EDA.

The Guardian

The council found the implication that a high proportion of DSP recipients are "slackers" and should not be receiving DSP was "offensive to an extent not justified by the public interest".

The Guardian

He justified the payments by saying the bank would have faced a "death spiral" of staff quitting if the payments had not been made.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "justified" to indicate that there are valid reasons or evidence supporting a particular action, decision, or belief. For example, "The company's cost-cutting measures were justified by the decline in revenue."

Common error

Avoid using "justified" without clearly explaining the reasons behind the justification. Always provide context or evidence to support why something is considered "justified".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "justified" is as a past participle or adjective. It describes a state of being proven right or reasonable. Ludwig provides examples where it modifies nouns, indicating that an action or decision has valid reasons.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

22%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "justified" is a versatile term used to validate actions, decisions, or beliefs by presenting them as reasonable or morally sound. As highlighted by Ludwig, its usage spans various contexts from news and media to formal business settings. While grammatically correct and frequently used, it's important to provide sufficient context when using "justified" to ensure clarity. Remember that you can also use alternatives like "warranted" or "defensible" depending on the nuance you aim to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

warranted

Focuses on the idea that something is deserved or necessary, making it a suitable action or decision.

defensible

Highlights the ability to argue in favor of something, showing it can be supported with reasons or evidence.

excusable

Suggests that a behavior or action, though potentially wrong, can be understood and forgiven due to mitigating circumstances.

legitimate

Emphasizes the lawfulness or accordance with accepted rules and standards.

reasonable

Indicates that something is sensible and based on good judgment, making it acceptable.

validated

Focuses on confirming the truth or correctness of something, proving its justification.

vindicated

Highlights being cleared of blame or suspicion, proving that a previous action was right or fair.

substantiated

Indicates that something has been supported with evidence, making it credible and justified.

permissible

Suggests that something is allowed or not forbidden, aligning with rules or standards.

authorized

Emphasizes that something has been given official approval or permission, making it justified under certain guidelines.

FAQs

How can I use "justified" in a sentence?

You can use "justified" to describe an action, decision, or belief that is supported by good reasons or evidence. For example, "His concerns were "justified" given the circumstances."

What are some alternatives to "justified"?

Some alternatives include "warranted", "defensible", and "legitimate depending on the specific context".

Is there a difference between "justified" and "justifiable"?

"Justified" is the past participle of the verb "justify", while "justifiable" is an adjective that means capable of being justified. An action is justified after the fact; it is justifiable beforehand if reasons exist to support it.

When is it appropriate to use "justified" in formal writing?

In formal writing, "justified" is appropriate when you need to provide a reasoned explanation or defense for a decision, action, or conclusion. Ensure your justification is supported by credible evidence.