Justice Definition
justice
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English
Etymology
Middle English justice from Old French justise, justice (Modern French justice), from Latin iustitia 'righteousness, equity', from iustus "just", from ius 'right', from Old Latin ious, perhaps literally "sacred formula", a word peculiar to Latin (not general Italic) that originated in the religious cults, from Proto-Indo-European *yewes-. Replaced native Middle English rightwished, rightwisnes "justice" (from Old English rihtwīsnes "justice, righteousness", compare Old English ġerihte "justice").
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˈdʒʌs.tɪs/, SAMPA: /"dZVs.tIs/
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Audio (US) (file)
Noun
justice (usually uncountable; plural justices)
- The state or characteristic of being just or fair.
- The ideal of fairness, impartiality, etc., especially with regard to the punishment of wrongdoing.
- Justice was served
- Judgment and punishment of a party who has allegedly wronged (an)other(s).
- to demand justice
- The civil power dealing with law.
- Ministry of Justice
- the justice system
- A judge of certain courts. Also capitalized as a title.
- Mr. Justice Krever presides over the appellate court
- Correctness, conforming to reality or rules.
Antonyms
Derived terms
Terms derived from "justice"
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Related terms
Terms etymologically related to "justice"See also
- fairness
- poetic justice
- strict justice
- divine justice
External links
- Justice on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
Statistics
- Most common English words before 1923: success · instance · sake · #907: justice · offer · promise · obliged
French
Etymology
From Latin iustitia, from iustus "just", from ius "right"
Pronunciation
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Audio (file)
Noun
justice f. (plural justices)
Derived terms
- juste
- justiticiable
- justiticier
Old French
Noun
justice f. (oblique plural justices, nominative singular justice, nominative plural justices)
- Alternative form of justise.
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According to most contemporary theories of justice, justice is overwhelmingly important: John Rawls claims that "Justice is the first virtue of social institutions, as truth is of systems of thought." Justice can be thought of as distinct from and more fundamental than benevolence, charity, mercy, generosity or compassion. Justice has traditionally been associated with concepts of fate, reincarnation or Divine Providence, i.e. with a life in accordance with the cosmic plan.
Justice is a concept involving the fair, moral, and impartial treatment of all persons. In its most general sense, it means according individuals what they actually deserve or merit, or are in some sense entitled to. Justice is a particularly foundational concept within most systems of "law". From the perspective of pragmatism, it is the name for a fair result.