Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Justice
1.
The quality of being just; conformity to the principles of righteousness and rectitude in all things; strict performance of moral obligations; practical conformity to human or divine law; integrity in the dealings of men with each other; rectitude; equity; uprightness.
Justice
and judgment are the haditation of thy throne. Ps. ixxxix. 11.
The king-becoming graces,
As justice, verity, temperance, stableness, . . .
I have no relish of them.
As justice, verity, temperance, stableness, . . .
I have no relish of them.
Shakespeare
2.
Conformity to truth and reality in expressing opinions and in conduct; fair representation of facts respecting merit or demerit; honesty; fidelity; impartiality;
as, the
justice
of a description or of a judgment; historical justice
.3.
The rendering to every one his due or right; just treatment; requital of desert; merited reward or punishment; that which is due to one’s conduct or motives.
This even-handed
Commends the ingredients of our poisoned chalice
To our own lips.
justice
Commends the ingredients of our poisoned chalice
To our own lips.
Shakespeare
4.
Agreeableness to right; equity; justness;
as, the
. justice
of a claim5.
A person duly commissioned to hold courts, or to try and decide controversies and administer justice.
☞ This title is given to the judges of the common law courts in England and in the United States, and extends to judicial officers and magistrates of every grade.
Justice
, Rectitude
. Rectitude, in its widest sense, is one of the most comprehensive words in our language, denoting absolute conformity to the rule of right in principle and practice. Justice refers more especially to the carrying out of law, and has been considered by moralists as of three kinds: (1) Commutative justice, which gives every man his own property, including things pledged by promise. (2) Distributive justice, which gives every man his exact deserts. (3) General justice, which carries out all the ends of law, though not in every case through the precise channels of commutative or distributive justice; as we see often done by a parent or a ruler in his dealings with those who are subject to his control. Jus′tice
,Verb.
T.
To administer justice to.
[Obs.]
Bacon.
Webster 1828 Edition
Justice
JUST'ICE
,Noun.
1.
The virtue which consists in giving to every one what is his due; practical conformity to the laws and to principles of rectitude in the dealings of men with each other; honesty; integrity in commerce or mutual intercourse. Justice is distributive or commutative. Distributive justice belongs to magistrates or rulers, and consists in distributing to every man that right or equity which the laws and the principles of equity require; or in deciding controversies according to the laws and to principles of equity. Commutative justice consists in fair dealing in trade and mutual intercourse between man and man.2.
Impartiality; equal distribution of right in expressing opinions; fair representation of facts respecting merit or demerit. In criticisms, narrations, history or discourse, it is a duty to do justice to every man, whether friend or foe.3.
Equity; agreeableness to right; as, he proved the justice of his claim. This should, in strictness, be justness.4.
Vindictive retribution; merited punishment. Sooner or later, justice overtakes the criminal.5.
Right; application of equity. His arm will do him justice.6.
[Low L. justiciarius.] A person commissioned to hold courts, or to try and decide controversies and administer justice to individuals; as the Chief Justice of the king's bench, or of the common pleas, in England; the Chief Justice of the supreme court in the United States, &c. and justices of the peace.JUST'ICE
,Verb.
T.
Definition 2024
Justice
Justice
See also: justice
English
Noun
Justice (plural Justices)
Proper noun
Justice
- An occupational surname.
- A male or female given name from the abstract noun justice.
- 1994 Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom, Abacus (1995), ISBN 0349106533, page 21:
- 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 (1995), ISBN 0349106533, page 21:
justice
justice
See also: Justice
English
Noun
justice (usually uncountable, plural justices)
- The state or characteristic of being just or fair.
- the justice of a description
- Shakespeare
- This even-handed justice / Commends the ingredients of our poisoned chalice / To our own lips.
- The ideal of fairness, impartiality, etc., especially with regard to the punishment of wrongdoing.
- Justice was served.
- Judgment and punishment of a party who has allegedly wronged another.
- to demand justice
- The civil power dealing with law.
- Ministry of Justice
- the justice system
- A title given to judges of certain courts. Capitalized as a title.
- Mr. Justice Krever presides over the appellate court
- Correctness, conforming to reality or rules.
Synonyms
- (judge of various lower courts): See judge
- (judge of a superior court): justiciar, justiciary
Antonyms
Derived terms
Terms derived from "justice"
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Related terms
Terms etymologically related to "justice"
Translations
state of being just or fair
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fairness, especially with regard to punishment
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judgment and punishment of who wronged another
the civil power dealing with law
a judge of certain courts
correctness
See also
External links
Statistics
Most common English words before 1923: success · instance · sake · #907: justice · offer · promise · obliged
French
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin iustitia, from iustus "just", from ius "right"
Pronunciation
Noun
justice f (plural justices)
Derived terms
- juste
- justiticiable
- justiticier
References
Norman
Etymology
From Old French justise, justice, from Latin iūstitia (“righteousness, equity”), from iūstus (“just”), from iūs (“right”), from Proto-Indo-European *yewes-.
Noun
justice f (plural justices)