unfair

play

adjective un·fair \ ˌən-ˈfer \

Definition of unfair

1 :marked by injustice, partiality, or deception :unjust

2 :not equitable in business dealings

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unfairness

noun

See unfair defined for English-language learners

See unfair defined for kids

Examples of unfair in a Sentence

It's unfair for them to be allowed to leave early if we can't.
It seems unfair to single her out for criticism.
The company has been accused of unfair labor practices.

Recent Examples of unfair from the Web

The 20-year-old calculation Illinois currently uses is widely considered unfair, though Republicans and Democrats disagree over how to change it.

— sophia tareen, The Seattle Times, "4 resign from Illinois governor’s office after cartoon flap," 24 Aug. 2017
On Aug. 8, Gucci asked the court to dismiss Forever 21's claims, and filed its own claims for trademark infringement, trademark dilution, and unfair competition.

— christine flammia, Esquire, "Gucci Is Fed Up With Forever 21's Alleged 'Blatant Exploitation'," 10 Aug. 2017
According to Fashionista, the counterclaims filed were for trademark infringement, trademark dilution, unfair competition, and the dismissal of the retailer's earlier claims.

— lauren alexis fisher, Harper's BAZAAR, "Gucci Sues Forever 21 Over Knockoff Stripe Designs," 8 Aug. 2017
Entertainment media has also entered a more positive space; if a gross tabloid publishes something unfair about a celebrity, several reputable outlets will call it out.

— christopher rosa, Glamour, "'The Simple Life' Does Not Age Well in 2017," 5 Aug. 2017
Arguments that it's resulted in unfair racial discrimination against whites is about as believable as Sessions' claim that his notorious remark was merely for laughs.

— bree newsome, Marie Claire, "A Step Away from Affirmative Action Is a Step Toward Re-Segregation," 4 Aug. 2017
Utopia plans to become a criminal defense lawyer in the hopes of helping end unfair prosecutions in the criminal justice system.

— Laurel Leader, "Sewing together a Christmas party for Haiti [Old Town Laurel]," 3 Aug. 2017
Lawmakers from both parties agree the 20-year-old calculation currently used to fund public schools is unfair and forces school districts to rely heavily on property taxes, creating huge disparities in per-student funding.

— sarah freishtat, Elgin Courier-News, "Fox Valley educators decry Rauner veto that puts school funding in question," 1 Aug. 2017
Instead of hiding, Mr Schwarzenegger is in the thick of a nationwide campaign against gerrymandering—when parties draw electoral districts to give their side an unfair advantage.

— The Economist, "Arnie lends some muscle to the campaign against gerrymandering," 22 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'unfair.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of unfair

1700

unfair Synonyms

Synonyms

dirty, illegal, nasty, foul, unsportsmanlike

Antonyms

clean, fair, legal, sportsmanlike, sportsmanly

Related Words

dishonorable, shabby, shameful; ignoble, low, mean, ungentlemanly; immoral, rotten, unchivalrous, unethical, unjust, unprincipled, unrighteous, unscrupulous

Near Antonyms

just, law-abiding; ethical, moral, principled, righteous, scrupulous; honorable, irreproachable, unimpeachable

UNFAIR Defined for English Language Learners

unfair

play

adjective

Definition of unfair for English Language Learners

: treating people in a way that favors some over others : not fair, honest, or just

UNFAIR Defined for Kids

unfair

play

adjective un·fair \ ˌən-ˈfer \

Definition of unfair for Students

:not fair, honest, or just

an unfair trial

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unfairly

adverb

We were treated unfairly.

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unfairness

noun

Learn More about unfair

See words that rhyme with unfair Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for unfair Spanish Central: Translation of unfair Nglish: Translation of unfair for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of unfair for Arabic speakers

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Definition of unfair

unfairness

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Examples of unfair in a Sentence

Recent Examples of unfair from the Web

First Known Use of unfair

unfair Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

UNFAIR Defined for English Language Learners

unfair

Definition of unfair for English Language Learners

UNFAIR Defined for Kids

unfair

Definition of unfair for Students

unfairly

unfairness

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