Unfair: meaning, definitions and examples

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unfair

 

[ ʌnˈfɛr ]

Adjective / Adverb
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Adjective

treatment

Not based on or behaving according to the principles of equality and justice; unjust.

Synonyms

biased, discriminatory, inequitable, unjust

Examples of usage

  • The decision was deemed unfair by the majority of the employees.
  • She felt that the grading system was unfair to students who struggled with testing.
Context #2 | Adjective

situation

Not in accordance with the rules or standards; dishonest or unethical.

Synonyms

dishonest, partial, unethical, unjust

Examples of usage

  • It was unfair of him to take credit for her work.
  • The referee's biased decisions made the game unfair.
Context #3 | Adverb

manner

In a way that is not right or just.

Synonyms

dishonestly, partial, unethically, unjustly

Examples of usage

  • He played unfairly by constantly bending the rules.
  • She was accused of competing unfairly against her opponents.

Translations

Translations of the word "unfair" in other languages:

🇵🇹 injusto

🇮🇳 अन्यायपूर्ण

🇩🇪 unfair

🇮🇩 tidak adil

🇺🇦 несправедливий

🇵🇱 niesprawiedliwy

🇯🇵 不公平 (ふこうへい)

🇫🇷 injuste

🇪🇸 injusto

🇹🇷 adil olmayan

🇰🇷 불공평한

🇸🇦 غير عادل

🇨🇿 nespravedlivý

🇸🇰 nespravodlivý

🇨🇳 不公平的 (bù gōngpíng de)

🇸🇮 nepravičen

🇮🇸 ósanngjarn

🇰🇿 әділетсіз

🇬🇪 უსამართლო

🇦🇿 ədalətsiz

🇲🇽 injusto

Etymology

The word 'unfair' originated in the mid-16th century, derived from the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and the word 'fair' meaning 'just or equitable.' Over time, the term has come to be widely used in various contexts to describe situations, treatment, or actions that are perceived as unjust, dishonest, or unethical.

See also: fair, fairly, fairness, fairway, fairy, unfairly, unfairness.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #4,438, this word represents useful upper-intermediate vocabulary. Understanding and using it will help you express more complex ideas effectively.