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unfairness

unfairness

21 2.1
A situation when someone treats people in a way that is not equal or right
  • noun
  • /ʌnˈfɛrnəs/
translation icon : injusticia
  • But it felt like an unfairness and an injustice.
  • perceived unfairness
  • unfairness and injustice
  • perception of unfairness

But it felt like an unfairness and an injustice.

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Examples

  • Isn't it about time that you realized the unfairness of your position?

  • Furthermore, students feel justified in complaining of unfairness and demanding reconsideration when their grades do not match their expectations.

    Academic text (2013)
  • But it is just kind of like an unfairness in our society.

  • It's built on unfairness and it's built on failure to tackle unfairness in our society.

  • Every cell in my body lights up to protest the unfairness of it all.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Our society still scarred by too much unfairness and inequality.

  • But the unfairness comes first and then our mind finds a reason, a logic or some kind of data to support the way that we feel in the moment.

  • Where schools were identified as discouraging factors, unfairness and boredom appeared most problematic.

    Academic text (1996)
  • For example, Henry Garret discussed the unfairness of his trial and the partiality of the judges.

    Academic text (2009)
  • She expressed frustration at the unfairness of the rules that seemed to favor one team over the other.

Synonyms

injustice
vsunfairness
197 3.9

An unfair action or situation that treats people badly

is broader, covering states as well as acts or situations
inequity
vsunfairness
25 7.4

Unfair treatment that gives some people fewer chances or help

is more general, meaning lack of fairness or justice rather than specific treatment
iniquity
vsunfairness
  • Literature
21 9.5

Very bad or unfair actions that harm people

refers to lack of fairness or justice rather than deep moral evil
wrongfulness
vsunfairness
  • Formal
1 7.4

Something that is not right according to law or morals

is focused on lack of fairness specifically, not on general moral or legal wrong
unconscionability
vsunfairness
  • Formal
1 9.9

Extreme unfairness in a contract or action that is morally wrong

is milder and general, referring to ordinary lack of fairness rather than extreme cases
unjustness
vsunfairness
6.0

A situation where people are treated unfairly

also includes specific acts or situations, not only the general state

Antonyms

2.5

Fair treatment of people and the courts that decide it

236 1.9

Treating people equally and without bias

How Fair

justice
2.5
fairness
236 1.9
injustice
197 3.9
unfairness
21 2.1
partiality
3 6.7

Surface Forms

unfairness singular
unfairnesses plural

Morphology

unfairness = unfair (transparent) = un + fair + ness

Standard noun formation from the adjective 'unfair' using '-ness' yields 'the state or quality of being unfair', which is directly derived.

Etymology

Unfairness is built from the small prefix un- meaning 'not' and the common word fair meaning 'just' or 'equal'. So unfairness is simply the state of being 'not fair', which explains why it means a lack of fairness or justice.