Unfairly: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when something is not just or right, generally in a broad sense. It implies a lack of fairness in treatment or judgment without specifying a cause.

• She was penalized unfairly during the competition
• It is unfairly assumed that he is responsible for the mistake

Used when describing something that is morally wrong or violates principles of justice. It implies a more severe moral judgment compared to 'unfairly'.

• The prisoner was unjustly accused and sentenced
• She lost her job unjustly due to false accusations

Used when something is distributed or allocated in an unequal or unjust manner. It particularly highlights an imbalance.

• The resources were inequitably shared among the departments
• The funds were inequitably distributed, favoring one group over others

Used when a person or group is treated differently, often worse, based on specific attributes like race, gender, or age. This word carries a strong negative connotation.

• Employees were discriminatively denied promotions based on their gender
• The policy discriminatively affects people from certain backgrounds

When someone is treated in a way that is not just or right, especially in specific situations where the treatment is clearly unreasonable or not deserved.

• She was unfairly dismissed from her job
• The referee unfairly favored the home team

When an action, situation, or system is morally wrong or unfair, often in a more serious or grave context. It implies a deeper level of moral judgment.

• The law is unjust and discriminates against minorities
• It's unjust to punish someone so severely for a minor mistake

When something is not fair or equal, often related to policies, laws, or resource distribution. It usually applies to broader systemic issues rather than individual instances.

• The inequitable distribution of wealth is a major issue in many countries
• It's inequitable for some schools to receive more funding than others

When there is a tendency to favor one person, group, or thing over another, often in an unjust or prejudiced manner. This can apply to opinions, decisions, or media coverage.

• The article was biased and didn't present both sides of the story
• He is biased towards hiring friends as employees