adverb

justement

actually · exactly · precisely

Ce mot sert à montrer que quelque chose arrive au bon moment ou pour insister sur la précision d’un fait.

Definition & meaning

Justement is an adverb with several related meanings:

Precisely; exactly — emphasizes that something is accurate or fits a point exactly.
C’est justement ce que je voulais dire. — “That’s exactly what I wanted to say.”
Precisely at that moment; just then — identifies a particular time or point.
Justement, il arrivait. — “Just then, he was arriving.”
As it happens; in fact — introduces a relevant or coincidental point.
Justement, j’en parlais hier. — “As it happens, I was talking about it yesterday.”
Justly; fairly; rightly — describes something done or judged in a fair or appropriate way.
Il a été justement récompensé. — “He was rightly rewarded.”

Grammar & Word origin

Justement is an invariable adverb: its form does not change to agree with a noun or subject. It is formed from juste (“just,” “fair,” or “exact”) and the adverb-forming suffix -ment, comparable to English “-ly.”

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms vary according to the intended meaning:

précisément — “precisely”; often the closest synonym when emphasizing exactness, but less commonly means “as it happens.”
exactement — “exactly”; strongly emphasizes accuracy or an exact match.
à propos — “appropriately” or “just in time”; emphasizes relevance or timing rather than exactness.
équitablement — “fairly”; applies to fair treatment or distribution, not the other meanings of justement.
à juste titre — “rightly” or “with good reason”; emphasizes that a judgment or reaction is deserved.

There is no single antonym for all of justement’s meanings. Depending on context, possible opposites include:

injustement — “unjustly” or “unfairly,” opposite to the sense “justly.”
imprécisément — “imprecisely,” opposite to “precisely.”
par hasard — “by chance,” which can contrast with the sense of something happening at exactly the relevant moment.