Definitions
01not just or equal
B1 · Intermediate
adj. not right or honest because it treats people differently or breaks the rules.
adj. not based on or behaving according to the principles of equality and justice.
日本語:不当※
“It is unfair that some students had more time to finish the test than others.”
“The employees argued that the new promotion policy was inherently unfair because it favoured those with personal connections over those with higher performance ratings.”
Pitfall
It is very unfair for me.
It is very unfair to me.
When expressing that a situation is unjust toward a person, use the preposition 'to'.
Synonyms
02not beautiful
C2 · Proficiency Archaic · Literary
adj. not pretty or attractive.
adj. lacking in physical beauty or aesthetic appeal.
“In the old story, the cruel queen became unfair and wrinkled as she grew older.”
“The poet lamented how time's cold hand would eventually render even the most radiant face unfair and withered.”
Usage
In this sense, 'unfair' is the direct opposite of the archaic meaning of 'fair' as 'beautiful'.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “unfair” in context.
Verb
01. consider unfair
“Many employees consider the new promotion policy to be unfair.”
verb + adj
02. deem unfair
“The court may deem the contract unfair if one party was pressured into signing.”
verb + adj
03. unfair on
“The new rules are particularly unfair on part-time workers.”
adj + prep
04. unfair to
“It is unfair to blame the goalkeeper for the team's loss.”
adj + prep
Adjective
05. fundamentally unfair
“The current tax system is fundamentally unfair to small business owners.”
adv + adj
06. grossly unfair
“The decision to close the school was considered grossly unfair by local parents.”
adv + adj
07. manifestly unfair
“The legal system was criticized for being manifestly unfair to low-income defendants.”
adv + adj
Noun
08. unfair advantage
“Using performance-enhancing drugs gives athletes an unfair advantage.”
adj + noun
09. unfair competition
“The company was accused of unfair competition for fixing prices.”
adj + noun
10. unfair dismissal
“He sued his former employer for unfair dismissal after being fired without notice.”
adj + noun
11. unfair trade
12. perceived as unfair
“The distribution of wealth is often perceived as unfair by the public.”
Etymology
From Middle English unfair (“unattractive, unseemly”), from Old English unfæġer (“ugly”), equivalent to un- + fair.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/unfair
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0