noun
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the condition or practice of being unjust or unfair
-
an unjust act
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of injustice
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin injūstitia; equivalent to in- 3 + justice
Compare meaning
How does injustice compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Life isn’t fair, and that quality is exactly what defines injustice: something unfair that happens, often in violation of a basic human right. In the early 19th century in the United States, women could not legally vote, but they fought back against this injustice and eventually won voting rights. The word comes from a Latin phrase that literally means “not right,” and injustice is the opposite of justice, which is a fair and righteous act. Injustice can be general or specific, like the injustice suffered by poor people everywhere, or an individual act of injustice committed by some unkind person.
Vocabulary lists containing injustice
Figurative Language in King's "I Have a Dream" Speech (1963)
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"The Civil Rights Movement"
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Brown Girl Dreaming
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The unfortunate reality is that nearly every period of injustice the U.S. has experienced has come at the expense of human lives.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
“The nature of injustice is that we may not always see it in our own times,” he wrote in 2015.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026
Ignoring those facts not only puts women at risk of injury or injustice; it reverses 50 years of advancement.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
After the game, coach Hossam Hassan said Egypt had been "treated unfairly" and "suffered injustice".
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
“It’s true, America is a country with a history of injustice, but can we learn from those injustices? Make sure our society is indeed democratic and fair to all who reside here?”
From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan
An official inquiry found the National Coal Board was responsible for the Aberfan disaster, but survivors and bereaved families have long pointed to a litany of injustices.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
My hope for this country: That the future holds more joy, more opportunity for growth, less injustices for all, recognition of past faults, and denouncing said faults.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026
Her report recommends apologising to Mrs P and making a payment of £2,000 to reflect the injustices caused.
From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026
Societal injustices were not much remarked upon, according to Messrs. McKean and Bennett.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026
Blacks around the country were yearning for a newspaper like the Defender that celebrated their success stories and exposed the injustices heaped upon their race.
From "A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919" by Claire Hartfield
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
