*justification*

n. [ L. justificatio: cf. F. justification. See Justify. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The act of justifying or the state of being justified; a showing or proving to be just or conformable to law, justice, right, or duty; defense; vindication; support; as, arguments in justification of the prisoner's conduct; his disobedience admits justification. [ 1913 Webster ]

I hope, for my brother's justification, he wrote this but as an essay or taste of my virtue. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) The showing in court of a sufficient lawful reason why a party charged or accused did that for which he is called to answer. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Theol.) The act of justifying, or the state of being justified, in respect to God's requirements. [ 1913 Webster ]

Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. Rom. iv. 25. [ 1913 Webster ]

In such righteousness
To them by faith imputed, they may find
Justification toward God, and peace
Of conscience. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Print.) Adjustment of type (in printing), or of the final spacing of printed text, by spacing it so as to make it exactly fill a line, or line up at one edge of the allotted portion of the printed page; adjustment of a cut so as to hold it in the right place; also, the leads, quads, etc., used for making such adjustment; as, left justification is the most common format for simple letters, but left and right justification is typically used in books. [ 1913 Webster ]