unfair

[uhn-fair]

See more 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.

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

Related formsun·fair·ly, adverbun·fair·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for unfair

Contemporary Examples

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
But it would be unfair to single out American diplomats for this ignorance.
How Havel Inspired the Velvet Revolution
Michael Zantovsky
December 6, 2014
“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
Both men and women experience stereotypes and unfair expectations.
Laura Jane Grace’s Trans Punk Rebellion
Melissa Leon
October 10, 2014
There are still plenty of tensions and unfair situations that arise more so for women than for men.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt on Why He’s Exploring the Word ‘Feminism’ and Online Misogyny
Marlow Stern
September 22, 2014

Historical Examples

But she constantly recalls what that snobbish Bines was unfair enough to tell her.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
Why she did not quite like them she did not yet know, and was anxious not to be unfair.
Weighed and Wanting
George MacDonald
He was a very severe, and often unfair, critic of his predecessors.
Apu Ollantay
Anonymous
"Every single thing that you have done that was unfair to me all my life," said Linda.
Her Father's Daughter
Gene Stratton-Porter
Wouldn't it be unfair to Rose to be so generous to his wife?
Dust
Mr. and Mrs. Haldeman-Julius

British Dictionary definitions for unfair

unfair

adjective

characterized by inequality or injustice
dishonest or unethical

Derived Formsunfairly, 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

Word Origin and History for unfair

adj.

Old English unfægr "unlovely," from un- (1) "not" + fair. Cf. Old Norse ufagr, Gothic unfagrs. Meaning "wicked, evil, bad" is recorded from c.1300. Sense of "not equitable, unjust" is first recorded 1713. Related: Unfairly; unfairness.

unfair

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}unfair

Examples from the Web for unfair

Contemporary Examples

He lambasts the case as without evidence, an unfair trial, and damaging for the American reputation.

But it would be unfair to single out American diplomats for this ignorance.

“I think the attacks on Fareed are distorted, irresponsible, and unfair,” Weisberg emailed.

Both men and women experience stereotypes and unfair expectations.

There are still plenty of tensions and unfair situations that arise more so for women than for men.

Historical Examples

But she constantly recalls what that snobbish Bines was unfair enough to tell her.

Why she did not quite like them she did not yet know, and was anxious not to be unfair.

He was a very severe, and often unfair, critic of his predecessors.

"Every single thing that you have done that was unfair to me all my life," said Linda.

Wouldn't it be unfair to Rose to be so generous to his wife?

unfair

Word Origin and History for unfair

adj.

Origin of unfair