unfairness

C2+ Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ʌnˈfɛrnəs/ UK /ʌnˈfeənəs/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
the quality of being unjust or inequitable

She protested the unfairness of the new grading policy.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the quality of being unjust... injustice inequity bias partiality prejudice discrimination

Opposites

fairness justice equity impartiality

Word family

Related forms unfair fair fairness

Etymology

From unfair (un- 'not' + fair) + -ness. Fair is from Old English fæger ('beautiful, pleasant'), from Proto-Germanic *fagraz; the sense 'just, equitable' developed in Middle English.

-ness Old English fæger Old English *fagraz Proto-Germanic

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# unfairness

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ʌnˈfɛrnəs/
**IPA (UK):** /ʌnˈfeənəs/

## Meanings
1. the quality of being unjust or inequitable

## Examples
- She protested the unfairness of the new grading policy.

## Synonyms
- injustice
- inequity
- bias
- partiality
- prejudice
- discrimination

## Antonyms
- fairness
- justice
- equity
- impartiality

## Related Forms
- unfair
- fair
- fairness

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: -ness
- Root: fæger
- Root: *fagraz

## Etymology
From unfair (un- 'not' + fair) + -ness. Fair is from Old English fæger ('beautiful, pleasant'), from Proto-Germanic *fagraz; the sense 'just, equitable' developed in Middle English.

## AI Etymology
Unfairness is from unfair (un- 'not' + fair) + -ness. Fair is from Old English fæger ('beautiful, pleasant'), from Proto-Germanic *fagraz; the sense 'just, equitable' developed in Middle English. Important recorded forms include -ness (Old English), fæger (Old English), and *fagraz (Proto-Germanic). Morphologically, the un- element marks negation, reversal, removal, or deprivation, while the base supplies the action, quality, or state being denied or undone. The semantic development is already visible in the history: an older concrete or specialized use was extended into the modern meaning rather than replaced by a separate origin. In current use it covers the quality of being unjust or inequitable. The wider family includes related words such as unfair, fair, and fairness.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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