America decided that imported steel had an unfair advantage over steel made at home.
It was unfair that he should suffer so much.
The union said it was unfair to ask workers to adopt a policy of wage restraint.
Synonyms: unreasonable, unjustified, out of order [British, informal], undeserved More Synonyms of unfair
unfairlyadverb [ADVERB adjective, ADVERB with verb]
The tribunal found that she was unfairly dismissed.
He unfairly blamed Frances for the failure.
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
An unfair system or situation does not give equal treatment or equal opportunities to everyone involved.
The band is suing the show for unfair competition.
Some have been sentenced to long prison terms after unfair trials.
Synonyms: biased, prejudiced, unjust, one-sided More Synonyms of unfair
unfairnessuncountable noun
What about the unfairness of life? Why do bad things happen to good people? [+ of]
More Synonyms of unfair
unfair in British English
(ʌnˈfɛə)
adjective
1.
characterized by inequality or injustice
2.
dishonest or unethical
Derived forms
unfairly (unˈfairly)
adverb
unfairness (unˈfairness)
noun
unfair in American English
(ʌnˈfɛr)
adjective
1.
not just or impartial; biased; inequitable
2.
dishonest, dishonorable, or unethical in business dealings
Derived forms
unfairly (unˈfairly)
adverb
unfairness (unˈfairness)
noun
Word origin
ME < OE unfæger, unfair, ugly < un-, not + fæger, fair1
Examples of 'unfair' in a sentence
unfair
Does that give you an unfair advantage?
The Sun (2016)
The judges claim that this gives the dog an unfair advantage in competitions and want the dog to be banned.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
She was also once made to take drugs to suppress her testosterone amid claims it gave her an unfair advantage.
The Sun (2017)
Trying to get an unfair advantage?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This wasn't about trying to find a way to gain an unfair advantage.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The criticism was unfair, or at least premature.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And it wasn't unfair criticism.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
First of all, he has had an extra day to rest and recover because of the distinctly unfair system of staggering the semifinals one day after another.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Fans want efforts to be recognised She also says the honours system is unfair because she gets recognised for her work but a lollipop lady doesn't.
The Sun (2017)
The manufacturer says the criticism is unfair.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This inevitably leads to disputes as some businesses look to gain an unfair commercial advantage.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They are given an unfair advantage against decent young bands who actually can play instruments.
The Sun (2010)
MPs have also spoken out against the unfair adoption system and are campaigning for a public inquiry.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We are clamping down on unfair competition.
The Sun (2013)
It would be unfair to accuse them of selling snake oil.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It seems unfair to ask any more of life.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Your reaction to unfair situations is to battle them.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Computer games come under a lot of unfair criticism for destroying the fabric of family life.
The Sun (2009)
She cannot bear any bleating about rich students getting an unfair advantage.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Its basic premise is that the system is inherently unfair.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The rapper thinks it is unfair competition.
The Sun (2011)
You find a tactful way to change an unfair family situation.
The Sun (2013)
Do their students get an unfair advantage in the music industry?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Britain has a grotesquely unfair education system.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
But it would be unfair to ask him to do something he feels uncomfortable with or would struggle to do.
The Sun (2013)
This may be an unfair criticism.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
You say that your boss's comments were unfair.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It's unfair to comment on the reds.
The Sun (2013)
They argue that relatively low wages in Germany mean that they face unfair competition.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
His comments are very unfair.
The Sun (2014)
But ITV producers refused to allow him on over fears it will give him an unfair advantage.
The Sun (2009)
One lawyer said: 'Some people might think that this gives him an unfair advantage in the dispute.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In other languages
unfair
British English: unfair /ʌnˈfɛə/ ADJECTIVE
Something that is unfair is not right or not just.
It was unfair that he suffered so much.
American English: unfair
Arabic: جَائِر
Brazilian Portuguese: injusto
Chinese: 不公平的
Croatian: nepošteno
Czech: nespravedlivý
Danish: uretfærdig
Dutch: oneerlijk
European Spanish: injusto
Finnish: epäoikeudenmukainen
French: injuste
German: unfair
Greek: άδικος
Italian: ingiusto
Japanese: 不公平な
Korean: 불공평한
Norwegian: urettferdig
Polish: niesprawiedliwy
European Portuguese: injusto
Romanian: nedrept
Russian: несправедливый
Latin American Spanish: injusto
Swedish: orättvis
Thai: ไม่ยุติธรรม
Turkish: haksız
Ukrainian: нечесний
Vietnamese: không công bằng
All related terms of 'unfair'
unfair practice
any practice in business involving the general public or competing parties that is prohibited by statute and regulated by an appropriate government agency
unfair advantage
An advantage is something that puts you in a better position than other people.
unfair competition
Competition is a situation in which two or more people or groups are trying to get something which not everyone can have.
unfair dismissal
If an employee claims unfair dismissal , they begin a legal action against their employer in which they claim that they were dismissed from their job unfairly.
unfair treatment
Your treatment of someone is the way you behave towards them or deal with them.
unfair discrimination
Discrimination is the practice of treating one person or group of people less fairly or less well than other people or groups.