different between likely vs justifiable

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?la?kli/

Etymology 1

From Middle English likely, likly, lykly, likliche, from Old English ?el?cl?? (“likely”) and Old Norse líkligr (“likely”), both from Proto-Germanic *l?kal?kaz, equivalent to like +? -ly.

Adjective

likely (comparative likelier or more likely, superlative likeliest or most likely)

1. probable; having a greater-than-even chance of occurring

2. (as predicate, followed by to and infinitive) Reasonably to be expected; apparently destined, probable
3. appropriate, suitable; believable; having a good potential

4. plausible; within the realm of credibility
5. promising; apt to achieve success or yield a desired outcome

6. attractive; pleasant

7. (obsolete) Similar; like; alike.
   • 1596, Edmund Spenser, An Hymne in Honour of Beautie

     For love is a celestiall harmonie Of likely harts composed of starres concent

Derived terms

• likely lad

Synonyms

• (as predicate, followed by "to" and infinitive): liable

Translations

Noun

likely (plural likelies)

1. Something or somebody considered likely.

Etymology 2

From Middle English likely, likly, lykly, likliche, from Old English ?el?cl??e (“equally”) and Old Norse líkliga, glíkliga (“likely”), both from Proto-Germanic *l?kal?ka, equivalent to like +? -ly.

Adverb

likely (comparative more likely, superlative most likely) (US)

1. (obsolete) Similarly.
2. Probably.

Usage notes

• The adverb is more common in US English than in British English.
• As an adverb, likely is often preceded by a modifier such as most or quite.

Translations

Anagrams

• Ilkley, Killey

English

Etymology

From Middle French justifiable

Adjective

justifiable (comparative more justifiable, superlative most justifiable)

1. That can be justified.
   • 1917, Albert Einstein, Relativity: The Special and General Theory, Part II.

     It was at all times clear that, from the point of view of the idea it conveys to us, every motion must be considered only as a relative motion. Returning to the illustration we have frequently used of the embankment and the railway carriage, we can express the fact of the motion here taking place in the following two forms, both of which are equally justifiable:

     (a) The carriage is in motion relative to the embankment,

     (b) The embankment is in motion relative to the carriage.

     In (a) the embankment, in (b) the carriage, serves as the body of reference in our statement of the motion taking place. —

Antonyms

• unjustifiable

Related terms

• justifiability
• justifiably
• justify

Derived terms

Translations

French

Adjective

justifiable (plural justifiables)

1. justifiable

Related terms

• justifier
• justification
• justifiablement

Further reading

• “justifiable” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).