Justify vs. Define — What's the Difference?
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Difference Between Justify and Define
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Definitions
Justify
To demonstrate or prove to be just, right, or valid
Justified each budgetary expense as necessary.
Anger that is justified by the circumstances.
Define
State or describe exactly the nature, scope, or meaning of
The contract will seek to define the client's obligations
Justify
To free (a human) of the guilt and penalty attached to grievous sin. Used of God.
Define
Mark out the boundary or limits of
The river defines the park's boundary
Justify
To demonstrate sufficient legal reason for (an action taken).
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Define
To state the precise meaning of (a word or sense of a word, for example).
Justify
To prove to be qualified as a bondsman.
Define
To describe the nature or basic qualities of; explain
Define the properties of a new drug.
A study that defines people according to their median incomes.
Justify
To format (a paragraph, for example) so that the lines of text begin and end evenly at a straight margin.
Define
To make clear the outline or form of; delineate
Gentle hills that were defined against the sky.
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Justify
(transitive) To provide an acceptable explanation for.
How can you justify spending so much money on clothes?
Paying too much for car insurance is not justified.
Define
To specify distinctly
Define the weapons to be used in limited warfare.
Justify
(transitive) To be a good, acceptable reason for; warrant.
Nothing can justify your rude behaviour last night.
Define
To give form or meaning to
"For him, a life is defined by action" (Jay Parini).
Justify
(transitive) To arrange (text) on a page or a computer screen such that the left and right ends of all lines within paragraphs are aligned.
The text will look better justified.
Define
To make or write a definition.
Justify
(transitive) To absolve, and declare to be free of blame or sin.
Define
To determine with precision; to mark out with distinctness; to ascertain or exhibit clearly.
The defining power of an optical instrument
Justify
(reflexive) To give reasons for one’s actions; to make an argument to prove that one is in the right.
She felt no need to justify herself for deciding not to invite him.
Define
(obsolete) To settle, decide an argument etc.
Justify
To prove; to ratify; to confirm.
Define
To express the essential nature of something.
I define myself as a techno-anarchist.
Your past mistakes do not define who you are.
Justify
(legal) To show (a person) to have had a sufficient legal reason for an act that has been made the subject of a charge or accusation.
Define
To state the meaning of a word, phrase, sign, or symbol.
The textbook defined speed as velocity divided by time.
Justify
(legal) To qualify (oneself) as a surety by taking oath to the ownership of sufficient property.
Define
To describe, explain, or make definite and clear; used to request the listener or other person to elaborate or explain more clearly his or her intended meaning of a word or expression.
Person 1: Is she good at math?
Person 2: Define "good." If you mean if she is faster than the average middle schooler at multiplication, then yes. If you mean if she is able to do multivariable calculus, then no.
Person 2: Define "good." If you mean if she is faster than the average middle schooler at multiplication, then yes. If you mean if she is able to do multivariable calculus, then no.
Justify
To prove or show to be just; to vindicate; to maintain or defend as conformable to law, right, justice, propriety, or duty.
That to the height of this great argumentI may assert eternal providence,And justify the ways of God to men.
Unless the oppression is so extreme as to justify revolution, it would not justify the evil of breaking up a government.
Define
To demark sharply the outlines or limits of an area or concept.
To define the legal boundaries of a property
Justify
To pronounce free from guilt or blame; to declare or prove to have done that which is just, right, proper, etc.; to absolve; to exonerate; to clear.
I can not justify whom the law condemns.
Define
(mathematics) To establish the referent of a term or notation.
Justify
To treat as if righteous and just; to pardon; to exculpate; to absolve.
By him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Define
(programming) A kind of macro in source code that replaces one text string with another wherever it occurs.
Justify
To prove; to ratify; to confirm.
Define
To fix the bounds of; to bring to a termination; to end.
Justify
To make even or true, as lines of type, by proper spacing; to align (text) at the left (left justify) or right (right justify) margins of a column or page, or at both margins; to adjust, as type. See Justification, 4.
Define
To determine or clearly exhibit the boundaries of; to mark the limits of; as, to define the extent of a kingdom or country.
Justify
To show (a person) to have had a sufficient legal reason for an act that has been made the subject of a charge or accusation.
The production of bail in court, who there justify themselves against the exception of the plaintiff.
Define
To determine with precision; to mark out with distinctness; to ascertain or exhibit clearly; as, the defining power of an optical instrument.
Rings . . . very distinct and well defined.
Justify
To form an even surface or true line with something else; to fit exactly.
Define
To determine the precise signification of; to fix the meaning of; to describe accurately; to explain; to expound or interpret; as, to define a word, a phrase, or a scientific term.
They define virtue to be life ordered according to nature.
Justify
To take oath to the ownership of property sufficient to qualify one's self as bail or surety.
Define
To determine; to decide.
Justify
Show to be reasonable or provide adequate ground for;
The emergency does not warrant all of us buying guns
The end justifies the means
Define
Give a definition for the meaning of a word;
Define `sadness'
Justify
Show to be right by providing justification or proof;
Vindicate a claim
Define
Determine the essential quality of
Justify
Defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning;
Rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior
He rationalized his lack of success
Define
Determine the nature of;
What defines a good wine?
Justify
Let off the hook;
I absolve you from this responsibility
Define
Delineate the form or outline of;
The tree was clearly defined by the light
The camera could define the smallest object
Justify
Adjust the spaces between words;
Justify the margins