justification
noun OPAL W
/ˌdʒʌstɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/
/ˌdʒʌstɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/
[uncountable, countable]Idioms - a good reason why something exists or is done
- justification for doing something I can see no possible justification for any further tax increases.
- justification for something I could find no real justification for the proposed reorganization.
- with (some) justification He was getting angry—and with some justification.
- without justification She was arrested entirely without justification.
Synonyms reasonreason- explanation
- grounds
- basis
- excuse
- motive
- justification
- pretext
- reason a cause or an explanation for something that has happened or that somebody has done; a fact that makes it right or fair to do something:
- He said no but he didn’t give a reason.
- explanation a statement, fact or situation that tells you why something has happened; a reason given for something:
- The most likely explanation is that his plane was delayed.
- She left the room abruptly without explanation.
- grounds (rather formal) a good or true reason for saying, doing or believing something:
- You have no grounds for complaint.
- basis (rather formal) the reason why people take a particular action:
- On what basis will this decision be made?
- excuse a reason, either true or invented, that you give to explain or defend your behaviour; a good reason that you give for doing something that you want to do for other reasons:
- Late again! What’s your excuse this time?
- It gave me an excuse to take the car.
- motive a reason that explains somebody’s behaviour:
- There seemed to be no motive for the murder.
- justification (rather formal) a good reason why something exists or is done:
- I can see no possible justification for any further tax increases.
- pretext (rather formal) a false reason that you give for doing something, usually something bad, in order to hide the real reason:
- He left the party early on the pretext of having to work.
- (a/an) reason/explanation/grounds/basis/excuse/motive/justification/pretext for something
- the reason/motive behind something
- on the grounds/basis/pretext of/that…
- (a) good/valid reason/explanation/grounds/excuse/motive/justification
Extra Examples- I can see some justification for her remarks.
- She had not given him the slightest justification for thinking she was interested in him.
- Such a step requires substantial justification to be accepted by the public.
- There was no compelling justification for the invasion.
- The government is struggling to find a justification for this war.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- considerable
- every
- some
- …
- give (somebody)
- offer (somebody)
- provide (somebody with)
- …
- in justification
- with justification
- without justification
- …
Idioms
in justification (of somebody/something)
- as an explanation of why something exists or why somebody has done something
- All I can say in justification of her actions is that she was under a lot of pressure at work.
- the argument which he put forward in justification