justificative

Justificative is an English term used as an adjective or noun to denote something that provides justification, grounds, or reasons for a claim, action, or belief. In standard usage it can refer to a justification itself (a noun) or to a property that serves to justify (an adjective). The form is common in specialized writing in philosophy, linguistics, and law, but it is less frequent in everyday language.

In linguistics and discourse analysis, justificative refers to a category of discourse elements that express justification of a proposition. Justificative adjuncts or phrases answer “why is this claim true?” using phrases like because, since, or by citing evidence. Some frameworks treat justificatives as a subtype of explanatory or causal adjuncts; others use separate terminology. For example: She canceled the meeting because the weather was severe. The because-clause functions as a justificative explanation for the cancellation.

In philosophy and epistemology, justification concerns reasons or grounds for holding beliefs to be true. A justificative argument or reason provides justification for a belief, claim, or action. In this sense, justification is central to theories of knowledge and rational belief.

In law, a justificative defense, or justification, denies wrongdoing by showing the act was lawful under certain circumstances (e.g., necessity, self-defense). The term “justificative” may appear in legal dictionaries to describe such defenses or to label statements that justify an action.

Etymology and usage: from Latin justificativus, via French justificatif; in English, “justification” is more common, but “justificative” appears in specialized texts. As a modifier, it means “providing justification”; as a noun, it means “a justification or piece of evidence.”