noun
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the condition or practice of being unjust or unfair
-
an unjust act
Other Word Forms
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.
"I don't do well with injustice," says Buzzard-Quashie, 43, from west London, who is the founder of a corporate gifting company.
From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026
Usually it’s about some kind of injustice that’s happening to the black and brown community.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026
All from a nonprofit that developed much of its reputation by positioning itself as a watchdog against such abuse—an organization that has criticized Cointelpro’s injustice again and again.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
"But you cannot repair suffering with an injustice: I am innocent," he said.
From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026
“How long will this injustice, this outrage, continue?”
From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling
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.
