Y07W23VC Word Roots — -jud / -jur / -jus- (law / right)

The roots ‑jud‑ / ‑jur‑ / ‑jus‑ come from Latin and carry the core meaning of ‘law’ or ‘right’. They appear in words connected to justice, legal judgment, authority, and the principles of fairness that underpin legal and ethical systems. Understanding these roots unlocks the meaning of many academic and formal English words. This module explores six such words drawn from the Academic Vocab list, plus three further examples in the Word Families section.

Word Families

These three words all connect to the root -jud / -jur / -jus-. As you read, notice how the meaning 'law / right' helps you unlock each word and use it more accurately.

justify

/ˈdʒʌs.tɪ.faɪ/

jus‑ti‑fy

verb | [justify – justified – justified]

To show or prove that something is right, fair, or reasonable; to provide reasons for.

Example: The student must justify her conclusion with evidence from the text.

Synonyms: defend, vindicate, explain

Collocations: justify the decision, justify the claim, justify the behaviour

prejudice

/ˈpredʒ.ə.dɪs/ or /ˈpredʒ.u.dɪs/

prej‑u‑dice

noun, verb | [prejudice – prejudiced – prejudiced]

An unreasonable dislike or preference formed without sufficient knowledge; or to influence unfairly.

Example: Cultural prejudice can harm relationships and prevent understanding.

Synonyms: bias, discrimination, preconception

Collocations: racial prejudice, gender prejudice, eliminate prejudice

justice

/ˈdʒʌs.tɪs/

jus‑tice

noun

Fair treatment and the punishment of wrongdoing according to law; moral rightness.

Example: The legal system aims to deliver justice to all people equally.

Synonyms: fairness, righteousness, legality

Collocations: social justice, criminal justice, justice system

Academic Vocab

convey

/kənˈveɪ/

con‑vey

verb | [convey – conveyed – conveyed]

To communicate or make known; to transfer or pass something from one place to another.

Word family: conveyance (n.)

Example: The author conveys the character's emotions through vivid descriptions.

Synonyms: communicate, express, transmit

Collocations: convey meaning, convey information, convey emotion

express

/ɪkˈspres/

ex‑press

verb, adjective | [express – expressed – expressed]

To convey or communicate thoughts, feelings, or information; clear or definite.

Word family: expression (n.), expressive (adj.)

Example: Students should express their ideas clearly in their writing.

Synonyms: communicate, voice, state

Collocations: express feelings, express ideas, express concern

portray

/pɔːˈtreɪ/

por‑tray

verb | [portray – portrayed – portrayed]

To depict or describe someone or something in a particular way; to represent.

Word family: portrayal (n.)

Example: The film portrays the historical events with accuracy and sensitivity.

Synonyms: depict, describe, represent

Collocations: portray as, portray in, portray accurately

communicate

/kəˈmjuː.nɪ.keɪt/

com‑mu‑ni‑cate

verb | [communicate – communicated – communicated]

To share or exchange information, thoughts, or feelings; to convey meaning.

Word Breakdown: -ate (suffix forming verbs, meaning 'to make' or 'to perform'). The root 'commun' relates to 'common'.

Word family: communication (n.), communicative (adj.)

Example: Clear communication between team members is essential for success.

Synonyms: share, convey, express

Collocations: communicate with, communicate effectively, communicate clearly

represent

/ˌrep.rɪˈzent/

rep‑re‑sent

verb | [represent – represented – represented]

To stand for or act as a symbol of something; to act or speak on behalf of someone.

Word family: representation (n.), representative (n., adj.)

Example: The dove represents peace in many cultures.

Synonyms: stand for, symbolise, depict

Collocations: represent the people, represent a group, represent interests

this conveys

/ðɪs kənˈveɪz/

this con‑veys

phrase (discourse marker)

A connecting phrase used to introduce information that communicates or demonstrates a particular meaning or idea.

Example: The characters' dialogue shows tension. This conveys that conflict exists beneath the surface.

Synonyms: this expresses, this communicates, this shows

Collocations: this conveys the idea, this conveys meaning, this conveys a message

Confusing Words

since vs because

These words both introduce reasons, but they work differently and imply different things. 'Since' suggests the reason is already known or well-established; 'because' introduces a direct reason that explains the main clause. Also, 'since' can mean 'from that time until now,' which creates confusion.

  • since — since' can introduce a reason (the listener likely already knows this reason or it's obvious), or it can mean 'from that time until now.' Example as reason: 'Since water boils at 100°C, we used that temperature.' (This is a known fact.) Example as time: 'It has been two years since we last met.'
  • because — Because directly introduces the reason that explains why something happened or is true. It is used when giving a direct, new, or key reason. Example: 'The experiment failed because the equipment was faulty.' (This explains why failure occurred.)

Memory rule: If the reason is obvious or already known, use since ('Since it rained, the game was cancelled'). If you are giving a direct reason that explains something new or important, use because ('The game was cancelled because the ground was too wet'). Remember: since = 'from that time until now' also, so be careful not to confuse the two meanings.