unfair
Not right or just; not giving people the same or kind treatment they deserve.
Not based on justice, equality, or reasonable standards, especially in how people are treated or judged.
Asking or expecting too much from someone, or blaming them more than is reasonable.
Placing too much difficulty, responsibility, or blame on someone, so that what is asked or expected of them is not reasonable.
- Base: unfair
deeply unfair
1seriously and strongly unfair
Very unfair in a way that feels strong and serious, often emotionally.
- Many people see the policy as deeply unfair to the poor.
- She felt it was deeply unfair that her efforts were not recognised.
fundamentally unfair
1unfair at the most basic level
Unfair in its main idea or design, not only in small parts.
- Critics argue that the education system is fundamentally unfair.
- He called the contract fundamentally unfair and refused to sign it.
grossly unfair
1extremely unfair or unjust
Very, very unfair; clearly not just or reasonable.
- They argued that the sentence was grossly unfair and should be reduced.
- The pay gap between men and women in that company is grossly unfair.
life is unfair
1life often does not seem fair
People say this to express that bad or good things happen in ways that do not feel just or equal.
- When he lost his job for no reason, he just sighed and said, "Life is unfair."
- Parents sometimes tell their children that life is unfair and they must learn to deal with it.
that's unfair
1protesting something as unjust
Used to say that something that just happened is not right or not just.
- "You have to clean the whole house by yourself." "That's unfair!"
- She whispered, "That's unfair," when she saw her brother get a bigger present.
unfair advantage
1benefit gained in an unjust way
A benefit one person or group has over others that is not gained in a fair or equal way.
- Using inside information gave the company an unfair advantage over its competitors.
- Many people think private tutoring gives rich students an unfair advantage in exams.
unfair burden
1too-heavy and unjust responsibility
A responsibility, cost, or duty that is too heavy for someone and not reasonable for them to carry.
- The high childcare costs put an unfair burden on single parents.
- Critics say the new fees place an unfair burden on students.
unfair comparison
1comparison that is not reasonable
A comparison that does not take important facts into account, so it is not reasonable or just.
- Comparing a beginner to a professional athlete is an unfair comparison.
- She felt it was an unfair comparison to judge her current work against her best performance.
unfair competition
1dishonest or illegal business rivalry
Business behavior that breaks rules or uses cheating to win against other companies.
- Small firms complained to the government about unfair competition from large foreign companies.
- The law aims to prevent unfair competition and protect consumers.
unfair dismissal
1unjust or illegal firing from a job
When an employer makes someone leave their job in a way that is not fair or not allowed by law.
- She is taking her former employer to court for unfair dismissal.
- The company paid compensation after admitting the worker's unfair dismissal.