justice noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced American Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Definition of justice noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

      

    justice

     noun
    noun
    NAmE//ˈdʒʌstəs//
     
     
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  1. 1[uncountable] the fair treatment of people laws based on the principles of justice They are demanding equal rights and justice. opposite injustice see poetic justice, rough justice
  2. 2[uncountable] the quality of being fair or reasonable Who can deny the justice of their cause? He demanded, not without justice, that he should be allowed to express his views. opposite injustice
  3. 3[uncountable] the legal system used to punish people who have committed crimes the criminal justice system The U.S. Department of Justice They were accused of attempting to obstruct justice. see miscarriage of justice
  4. 4Justice [countable] a judge in a court (also used before the name of a judge) see chief justice
  5. Topic CollocationsCriminal Justicebreaking the law
    • break/violate/obey/uphold the law
    • be investigated/arrested/tried for a crime/a robbery/fraud
    • be arrested/indicted/convicted on felony charges/on charges of rape/fraud
    • be arrested on suspicion of arson/robbery/shoplifting
    • be accused of/be charged with murder/homicide/four counts of fraud
    • face two charges of assault and battery
    • admit your guilt/liability/responsibility (for something)
    • deny the allegations/claims/charges
    • confess to a crime
    • be granted/be refused/be released on/skip/jump bail
    the legal process
    • stand/await/bring somebody to/come to/be on trial
    • take somebody to/come to/settle something out of court
    • face/avoid/escape prosecution
    • seek/retain/have the right to/be denied access to legal counsel
    • hold/conduct/attend/adjourn a hearing/trial
    • sit on/influence/persuade/convince/advise a jury
    • stand/appear/be brought before a judge
    • plead guilty/not guilty to a crime
    • be called to/take/put somebody on the stand/the witness stand
    • call/subpoena/question/cross-examine a witness
    • give/hear the evidence against/on behalf of somebody
    • raise/withdraw/overrule an objection
    • reach a unanimous/majority verdict
    • return/deliver/record a verdict of guilty/not guilty
    • convict/acquit the defendant of the crime
    • secure a conviction/your acquittal
    • lodge/file an appeal
    • appeal (against)/challenge/uphold/overturn a conviction/verdict
    sentencing and punishment
    • sentence somebody to 5 years in prison/2 years' probation
    • carry/face/serve a seven-year/life sentence
    • receive/be given the death penalty
    • be sentenced to ten years (in prison/jail)
    • carry/impose/pay a fine (of $3,000)/a penalty (of 14 years' imprisonment)
    • be imprisoned/jailed for drug possession/fraud/murder
    • do/serve time/ten years
    • be sent to/put somebody in/be released from jail/prison
    • be/put somebody/spend 13 years on death row
    • be granted/be denied/violate (your) parole
    • ⇨ more collocations at crime
    Idioms
    bring somebody to justice
     
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    to arrest someone for a crime and put them on trial in court
      do justice to somebody/something; do somebody/something justice
       
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    1. 1to treat or represent someone or something fairly, especially in a way that shows how good, attractive, etc. they are That photo doesn't do you justice. He didn't play as well as he can, but to do him justice, it was his first game since his injury. The review did not do justice to her talents.
    2. 2to deal with someone or something correctly and completely You cannot do justice to such a complex situation in just a few pages. I didn't feel well and wasn't able to do justice to the meal she had cooked (= I could not eat all the food).
    do yourself justice
     
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    to do something as well as you can in order to show other people how good you are She didn't do herself justice in the exam.
    obstruct justice (law)
     
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    to tell a lie or to do something in order to prevent the police, etc. from finding out the truth about a crime
See justice in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary