unjust

[ uhn-juhst ]

adjective

1. not just; lacking in justice or fairness:

   unjust criticism;

   an unjust ruler.

   Synonyms: unjustifiable, unmerited, undeserved, biased, prejudiced, unfair, partial, inequitable

2. Archaic. unfaithful or dishonest.

unjust

/ ʌnˈdʒʌst /

adjective

1. not in accordance with accepted standards of fairness or justice; unfair

Derived Forms

• unˈjustly, adverb
• unˈjustness, noun

Other Words From

• un·just·ly adverb
• un·just·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of unjust¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; un- ¹ + just ¹

Example Sentences

Reddit users also vented at a system they saw as deeply unjust, where the rich walked away from their mistakes and the poor were left to suffer.

From Washington Post

Instead, what’s come to the forefront on Reddit is to get the world’s attention on their power over an unjust financial reality.

From Time

It can also take form as the Holy Bible-inspired Jubilee 2000 campaign advocating for the annulment of unjust debt for developing countries.

From Quartz

Trapping San Diegans for another 20 years with an unaccountable, monopoly utility is unfair and unjust, and we deserve better.

From Voice of San Diego

Importantly, these encounters are also among the places where racially unjust policing is taught and learned.

From Fortune

Binding the resolution of my case to progress in the nuclear negotiations is profoundly unjust.

From The Daily Beast

With your unkind and unjust words, you continue to cause harm to LGBT people in your religious communities.

From The Daily Beast

Jackson had several notable confrontations with cadets who were unhappy with him or who felt he had been unjust.

From The Daily Beast

It is entirely possible that some young blacks are now being prepared to act as scourges of the unjust American social order.

From The Daily Beast

The original essay that Mark writes that goes viral, when that phrase was new, was called Motivation in an Unjust World.

From The Daily Beast

Whether advocates and orators had liberty to plead in causes, manifestly known to be unjust, vexatious, or oppressive?

From Project Gutenberg

The riches of the unjust shall be dried up like a river, and shall pass away with a noise like a great thunder in rain.

From Project Gutenberg

As Felipe talked with him, he perceived even more clearly how bitter and unjust his mother had been to Alessandro.

From Project Gutenberg

Is it true that whenever we are about to do an ill or unjust deed a shadow of the fruits it will bring comes over us as a warning?

From Project Gutenberg

Admiral Byng was afterwards shot in England, on an unjust charge of cowardice in this affair.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• biased
• inequitable
• one-sided
• partisan
• prejudiced
• unfair
• unjustified
• wrong
• wrongful