unfair

adjective

un·​fair ˌən-ˈfer How to pronounce unfair (audio)
1
: marked by injustice, partiality, or deception : unjust
2
: not equitable in business dealings
unfairness noun

Example Sentences

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 Ben Tanen is a freelance and data visualization journalist who has worked on stories about unfair practices in the mortgage industry and e-commerce. Ben Tanen, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2023 That's why Monday's outcome felt so unbelievably unfair. Brian Haenchen, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Mar. 2023 Blania called the reporting unfair, adding that the problems stemmed from the company still being in beta testing and hitting natural snags in the process. Leo Schwartz, Fortune Crypto, 21 Mar. 2023 Officials ultimately decided to ban its use, claiming an unfair advantage worse than steroids, yet the suit was a remarkable illustration of tribology’s potential to improve quality of life. Adrienne Bernhard, Popular Mechanics, 20 Mar. 2023 Black men are sorely needed in the teaching field, advocates say, as the nation’s school systems struggle with unfair disciplinary practices, achievement gaps, and political battles over Black history curriculum. Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN, 19 Mar. 2023 Twitter’s subscription service is breaking European Union rules about unfair business practices, Insider reports. Alexandra Sternlicht, Fortune, 17 Mar. 2023 Some liberal groups also opposed the legislation, arguing that the current no-fly list of people suspected of terrorism is opaque and unfair. Michael Casey And David Koenig, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Mar. 2023 Machine learning models trained on biased data can perpetuate and even amplify existing inequalities, leading to unfair and discriminatory outcomes. Esade Business & Law School, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2023 See More

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.

Word History

First Known Use

1700, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unfair was in 1700

Dictionary Entries Near unfair

Cite this Entry

“Unfair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unfair. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

unfair

adjective
un·​fair ˌən-ˈfa(ə)r How to pronounce unfair (audio)
ˈən-,
-ˈfe(ə)r
1
: not fair, honest, or just : unjust, dishonest
an unfair trial
2
: not fair in doing business
unfair to workers
unfairly adverb
unfairness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on unfair

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