justice delayed is justice denied
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
If a wrong is not redressed within a reasonable time, it is as though the wrong were not redressed at all.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
It is an old maxim that ‘justice delayed is justice denied’ and another might be added, perhaps equally true, that justice bought is valueless.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “justice delayed is justice denied” mean?
If a wrong is not redressed within a reasonable time, it is as though the wrong were not redressed at all.
Is “justice delayed is justice denied” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.