self-justification

noun

self-jus·​ti·​fi·​ca·​tion ˌself-ˌjə-stə-fə-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce self-justification (audio)
: the act or an instance of making excuses for oneself

Examples of self-justification in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As in any American history, those songs are as full of resentment and theft and self-justification as anything kindly or altruistic. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025 The eight of 10 episodes sent to critics largely examine which adversarial characters will be capable of introspection and regret and which will be stuck in self-justification. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 3 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1775, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-justification was circa 1775

Rhymes for self-justification

See All Rhymes for self-justification

Browse Nearby Words

selfist
self-justification
self-justifying
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Self-justification.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-justification. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Words You Always Have to Look Up
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

8 Words for the Wordy and Talking Too Much

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language

10 Hella Good U.S. Regionalisms

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

More Words with Remarkable Origins
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

8 Words for the Wordy and Talking Too Much

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All