ENGLISH
REFERENCE

unfair

adj.
US //ˈənˈfɛɹ// UK //ʌnfˈeə// un·fair
  1. 1 not just or equal (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    not right or honest because it treats people differently or breaks the rules.

    not based on or behaving according to the principles of equality and justice.

    Example

    It is unfair that some students had more time to finish the test than others.

    Example

    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'.

  2. 2 not beautiful (adj.)
    C2 Proficiency Archaic Literary

    not pretty or attractive.

    lacking in physical beauty or aesthetic appeal.

    Example

    In the old story, the cruel queen became unfair and wrinkled as she grew older.

    Example

    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'.
Origin

From Middle English unfair (“unattractive, unseemly”), from Old English unfæġer (“ugly”), equivalent to un- + fair.

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