Rättfärdiga

Rättfärdiga is a Swedish verb meaning to justify or legitimize something by presenting reasons, evidence, or normative grounds. It can apply to actions, decisions, motives, or policies and is used in moral, legal, political, and everyday contexts. The act of rättfärdigande is to provide a justification that makes a choice seem correct or acceptable in relation to norms of justice, law, or ethics. In legal contexts it may relate to arguments that a measure complies with statutes or duties; in ethical discussions it concerns reasons that render an action morally defensible; in public debate it can be used to defend policy choices.

Etymology: the verb is derived from the adjective rättfärdig (righteous, morally justified) plus the infinitive suffix -a. The related noun rättfärdigande denotes the act of justification; an adjective form is rättfärdig (righteous, justified).

Conjugation and usage: infinitive rättfärdiga, present rättfärdigar, past tense rättfärdigade, supine rättfärdigat. The reflexive form rättfärdiga sig means to justify oneself. The term often carries normative implications; it signals that the reasoned grounds for a course of action are deemed valid within a culture’s standards of justice or legality. Not every justification is accepted; the term can imply scrutiny or controversy regarding sufficiency of grounds.

See also: rättfärdigande, rättfärdig, justification, vindication.