justifiable

[ juhs-tuh-fahy-uh-buhl, juhs-tuh-fahy- ]

adjective

1. capable of being justified; that can be shown to be or can be defended as being just, right, or warranted; defensible:

   justifiable homicide.

justifiable

/ ˈdʒʌstɪˌfaɪəbəl /

adjective

1. capable of being justified; understandable

Derived Forms

• ˌjustiˌfiaˈbility, noun
• ˈjustiˌfiably, adverb

Other Words From

• justi·fia·bili·ty justi·fia·ble·ness noun
• justi·fia·bly adverb
• un·justi·fia·ble adjective
• un·justi·fia·ble·ness noun
• un·justi·fia·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of justifiable¹

From Middle French, dating back to 1515–25; justify, -able

Example Sentences

Prosecutor Tom Little KC suggested parts of Mr Blake's initial account were "exaggerated" and "false", and that the Metropolitan Police officer's use of lethal force was not justifiable.

From BBC

Prosecutor Tom Little KC told jurors that Mr Blake's decision to use lethal force was "not reasonably justified or justifiable".

From BBC

District Court Judge Haywood S. Gilliam Jr. rejected all of Masters’ arguments in June, when he found in a detailed ruling that the state courts already had considered and rejected those arguments using sound and justifiable legal reasoning.

From Los Angeles Times

"We get a sense that we give too many handballs for actions that are quite normal and justifiable," said Webb.

From BBC

The Mental Health Act Code of Practice says there are circumstances “in which it is both justifiable and important to share otherwise confidential patient information with people outside the immediate team treating a patient”.

From BBC

Related Words

• acceptable
• admissible
• allowable
• defensible
• lawful
• legitimate
• logical
• probable
• proper
• reasonable
• understandable
• valid