unfairness

unfairness — noun

1. A situation in which people are not treated equally or justly, often because the

1.nounB1
Definition

A situation in which people are not treated equally or justly, often because the rules, systems, or individuals involved give one group an advantage over another.

Example

Kwame could not ignore the unfairness of a system that punished poor students more than rich ones.

unfairness + of + noun phrase (system that…)

An investigation was launched after workers at the factory described the unfairness in how shifts were assigned.

unfairness + in + how-clause

Common collocations
  • sense of unfairness
  • unfairness of the system
  • unfairness in the treatment
  • deep unfairness
  • perceived unfairness
  • widespread unfairness
Synonyms
  • injustice

    More formal and broader in scope; injustice often refers to a violation of a legal or moral right, while unfairness focuses on unequal treatment.

  • inequality

    More specific to measurable differences in treatment, resources, or opportunity; unfairness includes the emotional judgment that such differences are wrong.

  • bias

    Focuses on the prejudiced attitude or inclination that causes unfairness, rather than the result itself.

Antonyms
  • fairness

    The direct opposite — equal and just treatment of all people.

  • justice

    Emphasises adherence to what is morally right or lawful.

Grammar Patterns

unfairness + of + noun phrase

unfairness + in + noun phrase

sense of unfairness

Usage Note

This sense is uncountable and describes a general quality or state. Used with 'sense of unfairness' to refer to a feeling, or with 'the unfairness of/in [something]' to point to a specific situation.

Common Mistakes

There is many unfairnesses in our school.
There is a lot of unfairness in our school.
This sense of unfairness is uncountable and does not take a plural form.

2. A specific action, decision, or event that treats someone badly or gives them le

2.nounB2
Definition

A specific action, decision, or event that treats someone badly or gives them less than they deserve, going against what is morally right.

Example

The report listed several unfairnesses in how the local housing office allocated apartments to newcomers.

countable plural: unfairnesses

Christopher saw the denial of his promotion as a clear unfairness that he planned to challenge through official channels.

an unfairness (countable singular)

Common collocations
  • a clear unfairness
  • unfairnesses against
  • perceived unfairness
  • redress an unfairness
  • investigate unfairnesses
Synonyms
  • injustice

    Similar in meaning but slightly broader; an injustice can be a long-term condition, whereas an unfairness (sense 2) is a discrete event or decision.

  • wrong

    More general and less formal; a wrong can be any morally bad action, not necessarily one tied to unequal treatment.

  • grievance

    Focuses on the complaint side — a grievance is a formal complaint about an unfairness, rather than the unfairness itself.

Antonyms
  • fair deal

    An outcome or arrangement that is just and equitable.

Grammar Patterns

an unfairness

unfairnesses

unfairness + against/to + noun

Usage Note

Unlike sense 1, this sense is countable and refers to a specific instance. It appears more often in formal writing (legal documents, reports, journalism) than in everyday conversation. The plural 'unfairnesses' is relatively rare but grammatically acceptable in formal contexts.

Common Mistakes

Being passed over for the job was an unfairness which I cannot accept.
Being passed over for the job was an unfairness that I cannot accept.
Use 'that' (not 'which') for restrictive clauses defining the specific unfairness.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe situations where people are not treated fairly, but they highlight different angles. 'Unfairness' is the broadest everyday term — it covers any situation that feels morally wrong or unequal, from a teacher favouring certain students to an unequal pay system. 'Injustice' is more formal and often implies a violation of a legal or moral right, making it the preferred word in legal and political contexts. 'Inequality' focuses on measurable differences in resources, opportunities, or treatment rather than the moral judgment itself — you can measure income inequality without calling it unfair. 'Bias' points to the psychological or structural prejudice that causes unfairness, not the result. 'Discrimination' is the most specific: it means treating people differently based on a particular characteristic such as race, gender, or age, and it carries strong legal weight. For example: 'The students complained about the unfairness of having two different exam formats' (everyday situation), but 'The company was sued for gender discrimination' (legal violation).

injustice ↗inequality ↗bias ↗discrimination ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • sense of unfairness
  • unfairness of the system
  • unfairness in treatment
  • perceived unfairness

Prepositions

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Formed in Middle English by adding the negative prefix 'un-' to 'fairness'. 'Fair' comes from Old English 'fæger' meaning 'beautiful, pleasant, just', which traces back to Proto-Germanic '*fagraz' (suitable, fitting). The sense of 'just, equitable' developed in Old English and became the dominant meaning by the 16th century.