Definition of JUSTICE

justice

Meanings

Plural: justices

Noun

  • the quality of being just or fair
  • judgment involved in the determination of rights and the assignment of rewards and punishments
  • a public official authorized to decide questions brought before a court of justice
  • the United States federal department responsible for enforcing federal laws (including the enforcement of all civil rights legislation); created in 1870
  • The state or characteristic of being just or fair.
  • The ideal of fairness, impartiality, etc., especially with regard to the punishment of wrongdoing.
  • Judgment and punishment of a party who has allegedly wronged another.
  • The civil power dealing with law.
  • A title given to judges of certain courts; capitalized when placed before a name.
  • Correctness, conforming to reality or rules.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English justice, from Old French justise, justice (Modern French justice), from Latin iūstitia (“righteousness, equity”), from iūstus (“just”), from iūs (“right”), from Proto-Italic *jowos, perhaps literally "sacred formula", a word peculiar to Latin (not general Italic) that originated in the religious cults, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂yew-. Doublet of Justitia.
Partly displaced native Old English rihtwīsnes (Modern English righteousness < rightwiseness).

Synonyms

Department of Justice, DoJ, judge, jurist, Justice Department, justiciar, justiciary, justness

Antonyms

injustice

Scrabble Score: 16

justice is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
justice is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
justice is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 20

justice is a valid Words With Friends word