unfair

The word “unfair” means not fair or just; treating people unequally or wrongly. In plain terms, not fair — treating someone badly or wrongly compared to others.

“Unfair” is pronounced uhn-FEH-uh (/ʌnˈfɛɚ/ in IPA).

Here is “unfair” used in a sentence: “It's unfair to blame the whole team for one person's mistake.”

“Unfair” is an adjective.

The word “unfair” comes from Old English. From Old English unfæger ("ugly"), from un- plus fair; the modern sense of "not just" developed later, replacing the original meaning of "unattractive.".

“Unfair” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

Both describe wrongful or unequal treatment, but "unfair" is broader and more everyday, applying to anything from a game to a decision, while "unjust" is stronger and often used for serious breaches of justice, morality, or law. An unjust ruling is a graver charge than an unfair one.

"Unfair" describes any treatment that is not just or equal, while "biased" specifically means unfairly favouring one side because of a preconceived preference. Bias is one common cause of unfair treatment, but treatment can be unfair for other reasons too.

The opposite of "unfair" is "fair," meaning just, even-handed, and free from favouritism or wrongdoing. Related opposites include "equitable" and "impartial."

Common phrases include "unfair advantage," "unfair treatment," and "unfair dismissal," along with the informal "that's not fair." These pairings appear frequently in workplace, legal, and everyday contexts.