Unjust: meaning, definitions and examples

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unjust

 

[ ʌnˈdʒʌst ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

legal

Not based on or behaving according to what is morally right and fair.

Synonyms

biased, inequitable, unfair.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
unjust

Used to describe situations, actions, or decisions that are morally wrong or not based on fair judgments. This word often carries a sense of moral indignation.

  • It is unjust to punish someone for a crime they did not commit.
  • The CEO's decision to lay off employees without any severance pay was seen as unjust.
unfair

General term used to describe actions or situations that are not fair. It is often used in everyday language and can refer to trivial or serious matters.

  • It was unfair of the teacher to give extra credit only to certain students.
  • The referee's decision was considered unfair by the fans.
inequitable

Describes something that is not equal, often in terms of distribution of resources, opportunities, or treatment. This word is frequently used in discussing social and economic disparities.

  • The inequitable distribution of wealth has led to increased social unrest.
  • Healthcare access in rural areas is often inequitable compared to urban regions.
biased

Refers to situations where there is an unfair preference for or prejudice against someone or something. This can occur due to personal opinions, likes, or dislikes affecting objectivity.

  • The judge was removed from the case because he was biased towards the defendant.
  • The media coverage was biased, favoring one political candidate over the other.

Examples of usage

  • It was an unjust trial.
  • The decision was deemed unjust by the public.
Context #2 | Adjective

social

Showing a lack of fairness or justice.

Synonyms

discriminatory, unjustified, unrighteous.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
unjust

This word is best used when referring to situations or actions that are not fair or are morally wrong.

  • The decision to fire her was unjust.
  • It's unjust to blame him for something he didn't do.
unrighteous

This term is typically used in a religious or moral context to describe actions or attitudes that are morally wrong or sinful.

  • The unrighteous behavior of the leaders caused a crisis in the community.
  • He repented for his unrighteous deeds.
unjustified

This word describes something that lacks a good reason or basis, often used when questioning decisions or actions.

  • The price increase is completely unjustified.
  • His anger was unjustified given the circumstances.
discriminatory

This term is used to describe actions or policies that treat people unfairly based on personal characteristics such as race, gender, or age. It often has a legal or societal implication.

  • The company's hiring practices were deemed discriminatory.
  • Discriminatory laws were abolished in the late 20th century.

Examples of usage

  • The treatment of the workers was unjust.
  • The distribution of resources was seen as unjust by many.

Translations

Translations of the word "unjust" in other languages:

🇵🇹 injusto

🇮🇳 अन्यायपूर्ण

🇩🇪 ungerecht

🇮🇩 tidak adil

🇺🇦 несправедливий

🇵🇱 niesprawiedliwy

🇯🇵 不当な (ふとうな)

🇫🇷 injuste

🇪🇸 injusto

🇹🇷 haksız

🇰🇷 부당한

🇸🇦 غير عادل

🇨🇿 nespravedlivý

🇸🇰 nespravodlivý

🇨🇳 不公正的 (bù gōngzhèng de)

🇸🇮 nepravičen

🇮🇸 óréttlátt

🇰🇿 әділетсіз

🇬🇪 უსამართლო

🇦🇿 ədalətsiz

🇲🇽 injusto

Etymology

The word 'unjust' originated from the Latin word 'injustus', which means 'not right'. It has been used in the English language since the 14th century. The concept of justice and fairness has been a central theme in philosophy and law, leading to the development and understanding of the term 'unjust' in various contexts.

See also: injustice, injustly, just, justice, justify, justly, unjustifiable, unjustly.

Word Frequency Rank

At #6,236 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.