un ‧ fair S3 /ˌʌnˈfeə◂ $ -ˈfer◂/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: adverb : ↑ fairly ≠ ↑ unfairly , ↑ fair ; noun : ↑ fairness ≠ ↑ unfairness ; adjective : ↑ fair ≠ ↑ unfair ]
not right or fair, especially because not everyone has an equal opportunity SYN unjust :
an unfair advantage
laws aimed at preventing unfair competition
Many employers have recognized that age discrimination is unfair.
She won £20,000 for unfair dismissal (=being illegally made to leave your job) .
—unfairly adverb :
Mrs Taylor believes her son has been unfairly treated.
The tribunal decided that Mr Matthews had been unfairly dismissed.
—unfairness noun [uncountable]
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COLLOCATIONS
■ adverbs
▪ very/most unfair
We live in a very unfair world.
▪ totally unfair
It’s totally unfair to blame one player when the team doesn’t play well.
▪ extremely/grossly unfair
The system was extremely unfair.
▪ a little/slightly unfair ( also a bit unfair British English spoken )
You’re being slightly unfair on him.
▪ blatantly/manifestly/demonstrably unfair (=clearly unfair)
The newspaper called the judge’s ruling ‘blatantly unfair.’
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THESAURUS
▪ unfair/not fair not right or fair, especially because not everyone has an equal opportunity:
The present welfare system is grossly unfair.
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It’s not fair that people are paying different prices for the same tickets.
▪ unjust not fair or right according to the principles of a particular society:
He believed it was an illegal and unjust war.
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unjust laws
▪ unequal unfair because people are treated in different ways or because some people have more power than others:
We live in a deeply unequal society.
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the unequal distribution of global resources
▪ inequitable formal unfair because people are treated in different ways, or because some people have more power than others:
inequitable tax laws
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The system is inequitable, because it makes it possible for rich people to buy a place at university.
▪ biased unfairly against or in favour of a particular group:
biased reporting
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There were claims that prison bosses were racially biased.
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The policy was biased against women.
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The trade laws are biased in favour of rich countries.
■ treating people unfairly because of their race, sex, age etc
▪ prejudiced treating someone unfairly and having an unreasonable dislike of them because of their race, sex etc, or because they are old, disabled etc:
The media had very prejudiced attitudes towards disabled people.
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I don’t want to sound prejudiced, but I do think women are better at this type of job.
▪ racist treating someone unfairly because of their race:
racist remarks
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Children pick up racist attitudes from their parents.
▪ sexist treating someone unfairly because of their sex:
He had made sexist comments to several women in the office.
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The show was about two female inspectors who had trouble with their sexist bosses.
▪ ageist treating someone unfairly because of their age – used especially when old people are unfairly treated:
Ageist attitudes result in older people being discriminated against in the workplace.
▪ homophobic treating someone unfairly because they are homosexual:
Many of his songs are homophobic.