Definition of: justification

(jus′tə·fə·kā′shən) noun
1. The state of being justified.
2. The ground of justifying, or that which justifies.
3. Theol. The forensic, juridical, or gracious act of God by which the sinner is declared righteous, or justly free from obligation to penalty, and fully restored to divine favor.
4. Printing The even spacing of type within a fixed measure.
5. Law A plea in bar to a plaintiff's action alleging and showing the rightfulness or lawfulness of the act complained of and sued for: in slander, to plead the truth of the words spoken in justification of the speaking. See synonyms under APOLOGY, DEFENSE. [<LL justificatio, -onis <justificare JUSTIFY]