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
Business groups, including the Pompano Beach and Deerfield Beach chambers of commerce, worried the change would hurt Broward businesses and give Miami-Dade and Monroe counties an unfair advantage, particularly with tourists.
—
Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
Trump should know that politics can be unfair.
—Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
The policy prohibits collective punishment — such as taking recess away from an entire class because of a few students' behavior — and bans silent lunches, a practice some students said felt unfair.
—Eva Andersen, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
The ordinance aims to protect Santa Ana tenants from inflated or unfair rent increases that officials say can be driven by pricing tools, ones that critics argue allow landlords to artificially inflate rental prices, often working in coordination to manipulate competitive market rates.
—Mona Darwish, Oc Register, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfair
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Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
Trump should know that politics can be unfair.
—Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
The policy prohibits collective punishment — such as taking recess away from an entire class because of a few students' behavior — and bans silent lunches, a practice some students said felt unfair.
—Eva Andersen, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
The ordinance aims to protect Santa Ana tenants from inflated or unfair rent increases that officials say can be driven by pricing tools, ones that critics argue allow landlords to artificially inflate rental prices, often working in coordination to manipulate competitive market rates.
—Mona Darwish, Oc Register, 3 Mar. 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 10 Mar. 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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