collocation · formal
obstruct justice
/əbˈstrʌkt ˈdʒʌstɪs/OB·struct JUS·tice
to interfere with the legal process so that justice cannot be carried out properly
Examples
“Destroying documents can amount to obstructing justice.”
“He was charged with obstructing justice after lying to investigators.”
“Witness tampering is a common form of obstructing justice.”
Band 8 sentence
“Senior officials were accused of obstructing justice after evidence showed they instructed staff to destroy files.”
Collocations
- obstruct the course of justice
- be charged with obstructing justice
Word family
Common mistakes
obstruct the justice→obstruct justice / obstruct the course of justice
prevent justice→obstruct justice
Say it for a higher band
5get in the way→6interfere with an investigation→7+obstruct justice
Synonyms
interfere with an investigation
Easily confused
interfere with an investigation
“The witness's family attempted to interfere with the investigation.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Crime & Law
Learn it with its set