unfair

[ uhn-fair ]

/ ʌnˈfɛər /

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See synonyms for unfair on Thesaurus.com

adjective

not fair; not conforming to approved standards, as of justice, honesty, or ethics: an unfair law; an unfair wage policy.

disproportionate; undue; beyond what is proper or fitting: an unfair share.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of unfair

before 900; 1705–15 for def. 1; Middle English: uncomely, ugly; Old English unfæger; cognate with Old Norse ūfagr.See un-¹, fair¹

OTHER WORDS FROM unfair

un·fair·ly, adverbun·fair·ness, noun

Words nearby unfair

unexpressive, unexpurgated, unfaced, unfact, unfailing, unfair, unfair competition, unfair practice, unfaith, unfaithful, unfamiliar

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use unfair in a sentence

I think that this information is really important so that there’s not unfair pay.
Can I Ask You a Ridiculously Personal Question? (Ep. 451)|Stephen J. Dubner|February 11, 2021|Freakonomics
Cardona then said he thought it “would be unfair to compare” states with high and low NAEP test scores and assume that class sizes didn’t matter, saying that some communities may have more resources than others.
Five key moments from education secretary nominee Miguel Cardona’s confirmation hearing|Valerie Strauss|February 3, 2021|Washington Post
This is unfair to the players, who rightfully think the game will be called the same way in the second half as it was in the first.
Nine problems with college basketball on TV — and how to fix them|John Feinstein|February 3, 2021|Washington Post
However, if the Code, in its current form, becomes law, it may end up favoring larger publishers over smaller ones and providing one vertical with an inherently unfair advantage in the search results.
Australia’s showdown with Google has profound implications for domestic businesses and other digital platforms|George Nguyen|February 2, 2021|Search Engine Land

“It’s so unfair to those who want to receive a vaccine,” she said.
Anti-vaccine protest at Dodger Stadium was organized on Facebook, including promotion of banned ‘Plandemic’ video|Isaac Stanley-Becker|February 2, 2021|Washington Post
He lambasts the case as without evidence, an unfair trial, and damaging for the American reputation.
Of Cuban Spies, a Baby, and a Filmmaker: The Strange Tale of the Cuban Five|Nina Strochlic|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Once again he accused the West of being unfair to Russia, bringing back his favorite metaphor, the Russian bear.
After His Disastrous Annual Press Conference, Putin Needs A Hug|Anna Nemtsova|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But it would be unfair to single out American diplomats for this ignorance.
How Havel Inspired the Velvet Revolution|Michael Zantovsky|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“I think the attacks on Fareed are distorted, irresponsible, and unfair,” Weisberg emailed.
Can Fareed Zakaria Survive A Plagiarism Firestorm?|Lloyd Grove|November 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This double standard also seems to be rather flagrantly gender-based—grossly unfair to men and paternalistic toward women.
Harvard Liberals Hate New Campus Sex Laws|Cathy Young|October 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I am an old man who has never loved, and so it would be unfair of me to pass judgment upon lovers.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
My affliction does not enter into the case, but I shall certainly advise her against such an unfair transaction as that.
Dorothy at Skyrie|Evelyn Raymond
I consider it a very unfair decisionunfair in every particular, proclaimed Lily Pendleton, after school.
The Girls of Central High on the Stage|Gertrude W. Morrison
Yet a month later that district had achieved an unenviable, and even unfair, reputation in this respect.
Report of the Special Committee on Moral Delinquency in Children and Adolescents|Oswald Chettle Mazengarb et al.
The second is entirely mine; and I think it rather unfair on the young man to couple his name with so infamous a work.
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 25 (of 25)|Robert Louis Stevenson

British Dictionary definitions for unfair

unfair

/ (ʌnˈfɛə) /

adjective

characterized by inequality or injustice

dishonest or unethical

Derived forms of unfair

unfairly, adverbunfairness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

unfair

Origin of unfair

OTHER WORDS FROM unfair

Words nearby unfair

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How to use unfair in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for unfair

Derived forms of unfair