justice
/ˈdʒʌs.tɪs/ IELTSAcademic
noun
Fair treatment and the idea that people get what is right and proper. It can also mean the law and the courts, or a judge in some countries.
- We want justice for the victims.
- The court must serve justice fairly.
- She believes in social justice.
Adinary Nuance
Justice is broader than fairness. Fairness is about equal or proper treatment in a situation, while justice often means a right answer in law or society. It is also more serious and formal than fair treatment or equality. Writers choose justice when they want to talk about law, rights, or moral rightness.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- công lý
- Spanish
- justicia
- Chinese
- 正义
- Japanese
- 正義
- Korean
- 정의
Etymology
Justice came into English from Old French justice in the 13th century. It goes back to Latin justitia, from justus, meaning “right” or “lawful.”
Common phrases
social justicecriminal justiceseek justicebring someone to justice
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is justice the same as fairness?
- They are close, but not the same. Fairness is about proper treatment; justice often includes law and moral rightness.
- Can I use justice in formal writing?
- Yes. It is common in formal, academic, legal, and public writing.
- What does bring someone to justice mean?
- It means to catch and punish a person who has done something wrong.
- Is justice used with the law?
- Very often. It can mean the legal system, a court decision, or a fair result.