# injustice

/ˌɪnˈdʒəstɪs/ (US) · /ɪndʒˈʌstɪs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/injustice
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. unfair treatment

noun · CEFR B2

a situation where people are not treated fairly or do not have the same rights as others.

For teachers: the quality or fact of being unjust; a lack of fairness or equity in treatment or status.

- The protesters marched to fight against social injustice in their city.
- The documentary highlights the systemic injustice faced by marginalised communities within the current legal framework.

### 2. a specific unfair act

noun · CEFR B2

a specific act or event that is unfair or wrong.

For teachers: a specific instance of a violation of rights or an unjust act.

- It was a great injustice that he was sent to prison for a crime he did not commit.
- The legal team worked for years to overturn the injustice of the original verdict, eventually proving the evidence had been tampered with.

### 3. an unjust judge

noun · CEFR C2 · Humorous · Informal

a way to describe a judge who you think is making unfair decisions.

For teachers: a derogatory or humorous play on the title 'Justice', used to imply that a specific judge is acting unfairly.

- The lawyer joked that the biased judge should be called 'Injustice' instead of 'Justice'.
- In his satirical pamphlet, the author referred to the corrupt magistrate as 'Mr. Injustice' to highlight the absurdity of the ruling.

Usage: This is a wordplay on the formal title 'Justice' used for high-court judges.

## Examples

- The judge's decision was a clear injustice.
- Protesters gathered in the city center to speak out against the social injustice they witnessed in their community.
- The historical novel explores the profound injustice of a legal system that prioritizes the testimony of the wealthy over the physical evidence presented by the poor.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.