justice Hear it!

justice Definition

jus·tice (jus′tis)

noun

  1. the quality of being righteous; rectitude
  2. impartiality; fairness
  3. the quality of being right or correct
  4. sound reason; rightfulness; validity
  5. reward or penalty as deserved; just deserts
    1. the use of authority and power to uphold what is right, just, or lawful
    2. the personification of this, usually a blindfolded goddess holding scales and a sword
  7. the administration of law; procedure of a law court
    1. judge ()
    2. justice of the peace

Etymology: OFr < L justitia < justus: see just

justice Idioms

bring to justice

to cause (a wrongdoer) to be tried in court and duly punished

do justice to

  1. to treat fitly or fairly
  2. to treat with due appreciation; enjoy properly

do oneself justice

  1. to do something in a manner worthy of one's ability
  2. to be fair to oneself

justice Synonyms

justice

n.

  1. Fairness

    right, truth, equity; see fairness.

  2. Lawfulness

    legality, equity, rightfulness, prescriptive right, statutory right, established right, legitimacy, validity, sanction, legalization, constitutionality, authority, code, charter, creed, credo, decree, legitimization, rule, regularity, legal process, authorization; see also legality.

    Antonyms illegality, illegitimacy*, inequity. *

  3. The administration of law

    judicature, adjudication, equity, settlement, arbitration, hearing, legal process, the forms of the law, due process, judicial procedure, jury trial, trial by law, trial by jury, regulation, decision, pronouncement, review, appeal, sentence, consideration, rehearsing, pleading, taking evidence, litigation, prosecution, presentment; see also judgment 2, law 1, 2, trial 2.

    Antonyms lawlessness, disorder*, despotism. *

  4. A judge

    magistrate, justice of the peace, chancellor; see judge 1.

bring to justice

capture, try, exact punishment from; see arrest 1, punish.

do justice to

treat fairly, do right by, appreciate, esteem; see admire 1, respect 2, treat 1.

do oneself justice

be fair to oneself, give oneself credit, acquit oneself well; see justify 2, succeed 1.

justice Law Definition

n

The balanced and equitable administration of law.

justice Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • dispense: Indian agents became responsible for operating schools, dispensing justice, distributing supplies, administering allotments, and leasing contracts.
  • administer: The courts aim to administer justice as defined by the law.
  • do: The picture on the cover did justice to the old ship.
  • uphold: No bullying of the innocent is allowed and it is encouraged to take up the cudgels to uphold justice and truth.
  • obstruct: Obstructing an investigation is an offense, and covers altering, concealing or destroying documents, or attempting to obstruct justice.
  • seek: It gave normal people the ability to directly access the King, to seek justice or to make complaint.

Adjective modifier

  • restorative: The global appeal of restorative justice is truly startling.
  • criminal: By its nature, criminal justice is almost entirely negative.
  • distributive: Rawls, in contrast, argues that an egalitarian metric of distributive justice is uniquely appropriate in the domestic context.
  • social: Once social justice has been achieved, there is nothing more to talk about.
  • racial: They would have social peace at the expense of social and racial justice.
  • poetic: Poetic law has its place, as does poetic justice, but imprecise legal writing is poor legal writing.

Modifies a noun

  • system: Increase value for money from the criminal justice system by 3 % a year.
  • agency: Ministers have made it clear they wanted to see a much more strategic and 'joined up ' system of all the criminal justice agencies.

Noun used with modifier

  • youth: Further progress was also being made on speeding up youth justice.
  • trade: Now we're campaigning for trade justice, with new rules weighted in favor of the poor.
  • licensing: Licenses are granted by the local licensing justices or magistrates ' court.

Possessives

clerk: Back to top Where do justices ' clerks fit?

Preposition: in

eyre: Earlier on, they could also be made in the Exchequer and before justices in eyre.

Preposition: of

peace: Power of justice of the peace to grant warrant to enter certain places.