From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishunfairun‧fair /ˌʌnˈfeə◂ $ -ˈfer◂/ ●●● S3 adjective UNFAIRnot 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]COLLOCATIONSadverbsvery/most unfairWe live in a very unfair world.totally unfairIt’s totally unfair to blame one player when the team doesn’t play well.extremely/grossly unfairThe 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.’ THESAURUSunfair/not fair not right or fair, especially because not everyone has an equal opportunityThe present welfare system is grossly unfair.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 societyHe believed it was an illegal and unjust war.unjust lawsunequal unfair because people are treated in different ways or because some people have more power than othersWe live in a deeply unequal society.the unequal distribution of global resourcesinequitable formal unfair because people are treated in different ways, or because some people have more power than othersinequitable tax lawsThe 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 groupbiased reportingThere were claims that prison bosses were racially biased.The policy was biased against women.The trade laws are biased in favour of rich countries.treating people unfairly because of their race, sex, age etcprejudiced treating someone unfairly and having an unreasonable dislike of them because of their race, sex etc, or because they are old, disabled etcThe media had very prejudiced attitudes towards disabled people.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 raceracist remarksChildren pick up racist attitudes from their parents.sexist treating someone unfairly because of their sexHe had made sexist comments to several women in the office.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 treatedAgeist attitudes result in older people being discriminated against in the workplace.homophobic treating someone unfairly because they are homosexualMany of his songs are homophobic.
Examples from the Corpus
unfair• But would that have been unfair?• He feels strongly that racially based scholarships are unfair.• It was so deeply, wholly unfair.• There is nothing unfair about a story that is written from both points of view.• an unfair advantage• The liberal press was said to be unjust, unfair and unpatriotic and deserved to be closed down.• It seemed so unfair but perhaps he was right.• The press has been accused of unfair coverage of the recent elections.• The unfair dismissal jurisdiction accounts for about three-quarters of the business of the tribunals.• No legal framework prevails to enable disabled people to counteract discrimination, unfair employment practices, problems of access, etc.• U.S. industries want to protect themselves from unfair foreign competition.• However, it may be unfair to accuse the candidates of failing to attain the unattainable.unfair dismissal• Four of those chosen brought this action for unfair dismissal.• The union withdrew its support; the women lost their case for unfair dismissal as a consequence.• Anyone who believes they have been subject to unfair dismissal can complain to an industrial tribunal.• Practical implications Almost all constructive dismissal cases involve an unfair dismissal claim.• The hearing in which Tobin claims unfair dismissal continues.• The unfair dismissal jurisdiction accounts for about three-quarters of the business of the tribunals.• Only employees with two or more years' continuous service qualify for unfair dismissal rights.From Longman Business Dictionaryunfairun‧fair /ˌʌnˈfeə◂-ˈfer◂/ adjective1not right or fairThe new taxation system was widely regarded as unfair.poverty wages and unfair working conditions2not giving a fair opportunity to everyoneThe current law is not equitable, since it gives an unfair advantage to pilots who belong to a union.U.S. workers feel threatened by unfair competition from abroad. —unfairly adverbThe tribunal decided that he had been unfairly dismissed. 