1
a
: marked by injustice, partiality, or deception : unjust
an unfair trial
taking unfair advantage
You're being a little unfair to single them out.
b
: not representative
cited an unfair example
c
: disproportionate
got an unfair share
2
: not equitable in business dealings
unfair competition
unfair labor practices
unfairness
noun
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 on the Web
Broadnax's case gained national attention for what his attorneys say was an unfair trial that saw prosecutors eliminate almost every potential Black juror and use Broadnax's own rap lyrics against him.
—
Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Rich Batenburg, founder and CEO of The Clear Brands, says competitors in the marijuana industry who skirt the rules gain unfair advantages and present public health risks to patients and consumers.
—Karen Morfitt, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
For the early architects, food was always political and thus, so too was food justice—a direct affront to unfair systems.
—Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
Expecting DeBoer — or anyone else — to pick up where Saban left off in the 2010s is unfair to both DeBoer and the Crimson Tide fan base.
—Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfair
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Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Rich Batenburg, founder and CEO of The Clear Brands, says competitors in the marijuana industry who skirt the rules gain unfair advantages and present public health risks to patients and consumers.
—Karen Morfitt, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
For the early architects, food was always political and thus, so too was food justice—a direct affront to unfair systems.
—Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
Expecting DeBoer — or anyone else — to pick up where Saban left off in the 2010s is unfair to both DeBoer and the Crimson Tide fan base.
—Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfair
Cite this Entry
“Unfair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unfair. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unfair
adjective
un·fair
ˌən-ˈfa(ə)r 
ˈən-,
-ˈfe(ə)r
2
: not fair in doing business
unfair to workers
unfairly
adverb
unfairness
noun
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