theodicy

noun, plural the·od·i·cies.

1. a vindication of the divine attributes, particularly holiness and justice, in establishing or allowing the existence of physical and moral evil.

noun plural -cies

1. the branch of theology concerned with defending the attributes of God against objections resulting from physical and moral evil

n.1799, from French théodicée, title of a work by Leibniz, from Greek theos “god” (see Thea) + dike “judgment, justice, usage, custom” (cognate with Latin dicere “to show, tell;” see diction).