travesty
n.n. a situation that is so bad or unfair that it makes you feel shocked or angry. It is often used to describe a legal case or a public event that is handled very poorly.
n. a situation or event that is so grossly wrong or unfair that it is shocking. Often used in legal contexts to describe a trial that fails to meet basic standards of justice.
The trial was a complete travesty of justice.
The public outcry was a direct response to the travesty of the new tax laws that favored the wealthy.
The documentary exposed a travesty of the legal system, where evidence was ignored and witnesses were intimidated to ensure a specific verdict.
From French travesti (“disguised, burlesqued”), past participle of travestir (“to disguise”), borrowed from Italian travestire (“to dress up, disguise”), from tra- (“across”) + vestire (“to dress”), from Latin vestiō (“to clothe, dress”), from Proto-Italic westis (“clothing”), from Proto-Indo-European wéstis (“dressing”) from verbal root *wes- (“to dress, clothe”); cognate to English wear. Doublet of travesti.