The simplest justice definition is fairness: treating people as they deserve, giving each person what is rightfully theirs, and correcting wrongs in a fair way. The word also names the system of courts and law that tries to deliver that fairness, and it is a title for certain judges.
The meaning of justice sounds simple, yet people have argued about it for thousands of years. What counts as fair punishment? How should wealth or opportunity be shared? The sections below cover the main senses, the different types of justice that scholars describe, common phrases such as "do justice to", and why reasonable people disagree about what justice requires.
Entry at a glance
Meaning
Fairness; the legal system; a judge's titlePart of speech
Noun; plural justices (for judges)Pronunciation
JUS-tisWord forms
just (adjective), justly (adverb), justify, justifiable, judicialOrigin
Old French justice, from Latin iustitia, from iustus, "just, upright"Opposite
Injustice, unfairness, wrongRegister
Neutral; central in law, ethics, religion and politics
Justice definition: three main senses
When lawyers, teachers and dictionaries define justice, they usually mean one of these:
- Fairness or rightness: the quality of being fair and morally right. "The workers demanded justice" means they wanted fair treatment.
- The legal system: courts, police, lawyers and laws working to settle disputes and punish crimes, as in "the criminal justice system" or "a miscarriage of justice".
- A judge's title: in many countries certain senior judges are called Justice. In the United States, members of the Supreme Court are justices; in India, judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts are addressed as "Justice" followed by their name.
A fourth, everyday sense appears in the phrase do justice to, which means to treat something as well as it deserves: "This photo doesn't do justice to the view."
Types of justice
| Type | Main question | Everyday example |
|---|---|---|
| Distributive | How should goods, money and opportunities be shared? | Debates on taxes or school funding |
| Procedural | Were the rules and process fair? | A fair trial with a neutral judge |
| Retributive | What punishment fits the wrong? | Prison terms set by law |
| Restorative | How can harm be repaired between people? | An offender meeting the victim and making amends |
The phrase social justice usually refers to fairness across a whole society, such as equal treatment and opportunity. People agree on fairness as a goal but disagree, sometimes sharply, about which policies achieve it and how much the state should do. Related pages: equity, discrimination and ethics.
How the justice system works, briefly
In most countries, justice through law follows similar steps: a complaint or crime is reported, evidence is gathered, a case is brought before a court, both sides are heard, a neutral judge or jury decides, and a remedy or sentence follows. Principles such as innocence until proven guilty, the right to a lawyer and the right to appeal are meant to keep the process fair. Protections like habeas corpus guard against unlawful detention.
Justice in sentences
- After years of waiting, the family finally felt that justice had been done.
- The investigators promised to bring those responsible to justice.
- She plans to study criminal justice and work as a probation officer.
- No description can do justice to the smell of fresh bread from that bakery.
- The case was described as a miscarriage of justice when new evidence cleared the accused man.
- Our teacher dealt out justice evenly: everyone who skipped homework got the same extra task.
Common phrases with justice
- Bring to justice: to catch someone and make them face a court.
- Justice is served or done: a fair result has been reached.
- Poetic justice: when a wrongdoer suffers in a fitting, almost story like way, such as a cheat being cheated. Our irony page explores this kind of twist.
- Rough justice: punishment that is harsh or not carried out through proper process.
- Obstruction of justice: a crime of interfering with police or courts.
- Justice delayed is justice denied: a saying that slow justice can be as harmful as none.
Origins and symbols
The word entered late Old English and Middle English from Old French justice, which comes from Latin iustitia, "righteousness, fairness". The root is iustus, "just" or "upright", from ius, "right" or "law". The same family gives just, justify and jury.
A familiar symbol is the figure often called Lady Justice: a woman holding scales, for weighing the evidence, and a sword, for the power to act, often wearing a blindfold to show impartiality. Religious traditions also speak of justice, often joined with mercy. Courtroom and civic vocabulary continues under law, politics and society.
Frequently asked questions
In simple words, what is the definition of justice?
Justice means fairness: people being treated fairly, getting what they deserve, and having wrongs put right. It can also mean the courts and laws that try to make that happen.
What are the four types of justice?
A common list is distributive, procedural, retributive and restorative justice. They deal with sharing resources fairly, fair processes, fitting punishment, and repairing harm.
Why are some judges called Justice?
It is a formal title for senior judges in many legal systems. In the United States it is used for Supreme Court members, and in India for judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts.
What does "do justice to" mean?
It means to show or treat something as well as it deserves. If a photo does not do justice to a place, the place looks better in real life.
What is the difference between justice and equity?
Justice is the broad idea of fairness and rightness. Equity is one approach to fairness that treats people according to their different needs or starting points rather than identically.
What is poetic justice?
It is when a wrongdoer suffers in a way that neatly matches their wrongdoing, as if planned by a storyteller, such as a thief whose own wallet is stolen.