You’re staring at your phone, the grid is nearly full, but that one corner is just... blank. It happens to the best of us. The New York Times crossword is a beast of its own making, often pivoting on puns that make you want to groan or historical trivia that feels just out of reach. When you see the clue sign of justice nyt crossword, your brain probably jumps straight to a courtroom. Maybe a gavel? Or those blindfolded statues?
Honestly, it’s usually simpler than that. Or way more annoying.
The most common answer for a "sign of justice" in the NYT universe is SCALES. It’s classic. It’s the symbol of Libra, it's what Lady Justice holds, and it fits that tidy five-letter slot that Will Shortz and Joel Fagliano love to mess with. But here’s the thing: crosswords are rarely about the first thing that comes to mind. Depending on the day of the week—and let’s be real, a Saturday puzzle is a different animal than a Monday—the "sign" might not be an object at all.
Why the Word Scales Rules the Grid
If you've got five boxes and the clue is "Sign of justice," just type in SCALES. Seriously. It’s almost always SCALES.
The iconography of the scales of justice dates back to ancient Egypt and the Goddess Ma'at, who weighed hearts against a feather. Then the Greeks had Themis, and the Romans had Justitia. In the context of a crossword, "sign" is a clever little pivot word. It can mean a literal physical sign, a zodiac sign, or a symbolic representation. Since Libra is represented by the scales and is the only inanimate object in the zodiac, constructors use this overlap constantly.
Wait. Did you check the crossing words?
If the "S" at the end doesn't work, you might be looking at SCALEL, which isn't a word, so don't do that. But you might be looking at a singular SCALE if the clue is phrased as "Feature of justice." Crossword construction is a game of plurals. If the clue is "Signs of justice," you are almost certainly looking for SCALES.
When Justice Gets More Complicated
Sometimes the NYT editors get bored. They know you know about the scales.
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On a Thursday or a Sunday, when the themes get "tricky," a sign of justice could refer to an OMEN or a TOKEN. It could even be BADGE, referring to a law enforcement officer—the literal "justice" in the room. I’ve seen grids where the answer was AVENGER because the constructor was feeling particularly comic-book-adjacent that morning.
Think about the word "Justice" itself. In the NYT crossword, "Justice" often refers to a Supreme Court Justice. If the clue is "Sign for a Justice," the answer might be ROBE. You have to look at the phrasing. Is "Justice" capitalized? If it is, stop thinking about abstract concepts and start thinking about John Roberts or Sonia Sotomayor. If it's lowercase, stay in the realm of philosophy and symbols.
The Meta-Context of Crossword Construction
Crossword constructors like Sam Ezersky or Robyn Weintraub don't just pick words out of a hat. They use software like Crossword Compiler or squares.io, but the "soul" of the puzzle comes from the cluing.
A "sign of justice" is what we call a "bread and butter" clue. It’s filler. It helps bridge the gap between more exciting, long-form themed entries. Because SCALES has such common letters (S, C, A, L, E), it’s a godsend for building a grid. If you see those letters, you’re looking at a high-probability "Vowel-Heavy" section.
The "NYT Style" specifically leans into misdirection. If the clue has a question mark at the end, like "Sign of justice?", then "SCALES" might be wrong. The question mark is a warning: I’m punning. In that case, the answer could be something like ARIES, playing on the idea of a "sign" (zodiac) that has nothing to do with the legal system but everything to do with the wordplay.
Breaking Down the Variations
Let's look at the actual data from past puzzles.
- SCALES: The undisputed heavyweight champion. Used dozens of times over the last decade.
- LIBRA: The zodiac "sign" of justice. If the clue is "Zodiac sign of justice," this is your winner.
- ROBE: When the clue refers to the garment worn by a judge.
- GAVEL: Less common for "sign," more common for "Tool of justice."
- EQUAL: More of a "concept of justice," but shows up in "Justice is ___" type clues.
One time, and I kid you not, the answer was ASTRAEA. She’s the Greek goddess of justice who became the constellation Virgo. If that shows up on a Tuesday, people start canceling their NYT Games subscriptions. That’s a deep-cut Saturday answer.
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How to Solve It Without a Dictionary
You don't need to be a history buff to solve these. You need to be a pattern recognizer.
First, check the length. Five letters? It's SCALES or LIBRA. Four letters? Probably ROBE.
Second, check your "crosses." In the NYT crossword, the words that intersect your target word are your best friends. If you have an "L" in the second position and an "A" at the end, you aren't looking for "SCALES." You’re looking for "ALOHA" or something entirely different because you probably misread the clue.
Third, consider the day. Monday is easy. Monday wants SCALES. Saturday is a nightmare. Saturday might want RETRIBUTION.
The Evolution of the Clue
Back in the 1970s and 80s, clues were much more literal. "Symbol of justice" would almost always be SCALES. Under the editorship of Will Shortz, the "Sign of justice" clue became a way to test if you're paying attention to the multiple meanings of "sign."
We’ve seen a shift toward more contemporary references lately. While the NYT still loves its classical roots, don't be surprised if "justice" refers to a pop-culture figure or a specific legal landmark. However, for this specific clue, the tradition usually holds firm. The "Sign of Justice" is a visual shorthand that has remained remarkably stable in the English language for centuries.
Common Pitfalls for New Solvers
The biggest mistake is getting married to an answer.
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You type in SCALES. It looks right. You feel good. But then the "down" clues start looking like gibberish. "X-J-Q-R-Z." Unless you’re solving a puzzle in a language I don't know, that’s a red flag.
Don't be afraid to delete. In the digital app, you can use the "Check Word" feature, but that feels like cheating to some. If you're a purist, look at the vowels. If your "sign of justice" answer provides a weird vowel cluster for the intersecting words, it’s probably LIBRA instead of SCALES.
Also, watch out for the "Blind Justice" angle. Sometimes the clue is "Attribute of justice," and the answer is BLINDNESS (too long) or just BLIND.
Practical Steps for Your Next Puzzle
- Count the boxes immediately. 5 is the magic number for SCALES.
- Look for the "S" at the end. Many clues in this category are pluralized.
- Identify the "Sign" type. Is it a zodiac sign (LIBRA), a physical object (GAVEL/SCALES), or a garment (ROBE)?
- Verify the intersections. Do not let one "sure" answer ruin an entire quadrant of the grid.
- Use the "reveal" tool sparingly. If you're truly stuck, revealing a single letter (usually the first or third) will break the mental block.
The NYT crossword is a conversation between the constructor and the solver. When they ask for a "sign of justice," they aren't trying to stump you with a legal bar exam. They’re checking to see if you know the common tropes of the game. Once you realize SCALES and LIBRA are the two pillars of this specific clue, you’ll never get stuck on it again.
Keep your pencil sharp, or your battery charged. The grid isn't going to solve itself, and honestly, that’s the fun of it. Next time you see those five empty boxes, just remember the scales. They’ve been there since the pyramids, and they’ll be there in next Tuesday’s puzzle too.
Actionable Next Steps
- Audit your current grid: If you have SCALES entered but the down clues aren't working, immediately swap it for LIBRA to see if the vowels align better.
- Check for plurals: Always look at the end of the clue; if it says "Signs," the answer almost certainly ends in S, which narrows your search significantly.
- Note the day of the week: For Monday through Wednesday puzzles, stick to the most common literal definitions. Save the abstract interpretations for the weekend grids.
- Practice with "Archives": Use the NYT Games app to search for past puzzles featuring the word "Justice" to familiarize yourself with how different constructors approach the clue.