unjust
Americanadjective
-
not just; lacking in justice or fairness.
unjust criticism;
an unjust ruler.
- Synonyms:
- unjustifiable, unmerited, undeserved, biased, prejudiced, unfair, partial, inequitable
-
Archaic. unfaithful or dishonest.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unjust
Explanation
Something or someone that is unjust is just not fair. An unjust boss might fire you the very first time you're late for work. You might think of the word justice in order to remember the meaning of the word just, which means "fairness or righteousness." An unjust judge does not play by the rules; he might send a person to jail even though there isn't enough evidence that a crime was committed. Unjust behavior is improper or dishonest: "The professor acted in an unjust manner when he gave everyone an F just because there was a rumor that his students didn’t like him."
Vocabulary lists containing unjust
Power Prefix: un-
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "U"
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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.
"We have neither the political capital nor the resources to spare for this unjust journey."
From BBC • Jun. 16, 2026
The majority decision also imposes new requirements on compassionate release, which was designed to show mercy to prisoners and to provide a “safety valve” for unjust sentences.
From Slate • May 29, 2026
In his letter, Andic said the "deeply painful" death of his father had been made worse by having to deal with "the most serious, unjust and unfounded accusation a person can face".
From Barron's • May 26, 2026
In 2024, Musk accused OpenAI and Altman of unjust enrichment and breaching a charitable trust, according to his lawsuit filed in federal court in the Northern District of California.
From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026
I felt it was unjust of her to scold me, but I only said, “I desire to do what is pleasing.”
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
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.
