justice

English

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.

Displaced native Old English rihtwīsnes.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /ˈd͡ʒʌstɪs/

• Audio (GA)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: jus‧tice

Noun

justice (countable and uncountable, plural justices)

1. The state or characteristic of being just or fair.

   the justice of a description

   • c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :

     This even-handed justice / Commends the ingredients of our poisoned chalice / To our own lips.

   • 2001, David L. Lieber, Jules Harlow, Etz Hayim: Torah and Commentary, page 8:

     God recognized the justice of the moon's plea and compensated for its diminution by promising that only the moon would be seen both day and night.

2. The ideal of fairness, impartiality, etc., especially with regard to the punishment of wrongdoing.

   Justice was served.

3. Judgment and punishment of a party who has allegedly wronged another.

   to demand justice

4. The civil power dealing with law.

   Ministry of Justice

   the justice system

5. A title given to judges of certain courts; capitalized when placed before a name.

   Mr. Justice Krever presides over the appellate court

   • 2024 March 4, Gail Collins, Bret Stephens, “Trump Is the Leading Man”, in The New York Times‎, →ISSN:

     Gee, I guess that’s up to the justices. Can’t imagine this court — which I find too conservative but not crazy — is going to issue a ruling that says a president can break any law in the land as an “official act” without consequence.

6. Correctness, conforming to reality or rules.
   • 1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “Of the Inhabitants of Lilliput; ”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. , volume I, London: Benj Motte, , →OCLC, part I (A Voyage to Lilliput), pages 106–107:

     As to Perſons of Quality, they give Security to appropriate a certain Sum for each Child, ſuitable to their Condition; and theſe Funds are always managed with good Husbandry and the moſt exact Juſtice.

Synonyms

• (judge of various lower courts): See judge
• (judge of a superior court): justiciar, justiciary

Antonyms

• injustice

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

See also

• fairness

Further reading

• justice on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Czech

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key):

Noun

justice f

1. justice

   Synonym: spravedlnost

2. judicial system
3. administration of justice
4. (dated) gallows

Declension

French

Etymology

Inherited from Old French justise, justice, borrowed from Latin jūstitia. Doublet of justesse.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʒys.tis/

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

justice f (plural justices)

1. justice

Derived terms

Related terms

References

• Etymology and history of “justice”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé , 2012.

Further reading

• “justice”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé , 2012.

Norman

Etymology

From Old French justise, justice, borrowed from Latin iūstitia, jūstitia (“righteousness, equity”), from iūstus (“just”), from iūs (“right”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂yew-.

Noun

justice f (plural justices)

1. (Jersey) justice

Old French

Noun

justice oblique singular, f (oblique plural justices, nominative singular justice, nominative plural justices)

1. Alternative form of justise