Dictionary Workbench Ondict

unfair

Dictionary entry view. Switch to definition mode above when you know the meaning but not the word.

unfair

Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++un·fair /ˌʌnˈfeə◂ $ -ˈfer◂/ ●●● S3 adjective  UNFAIRnot right or fair, especially because not everyone has an equal opportunity 不公平的,不公正的 SYN unjust an unfair advantage 不公平的优势 laws aimed at preventing unfair competition 旨在防止不公平竞争的法令 Many employers have recognized that age discrimination is unfair. 许多雇主已经认识到年龄歧视是不公平的。 She won £20,000 for unfair dismissal (=being illegally made to leave your job). 她因被不公平解雇而得到两万英镑的赔偿。unfairly adverb Mrs Taylor believes her son has been unfairly treated. 泰勒太太认为她儿子受到了不公正待遇。 The tribunal decided that Mr Matthews had been unfairly dismissed. 特别法庭裁定马修斯先生是被不公平解雇的。unfairness noun [uncountable]nCOLLOCATIONSadverbsvery/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.’nTHESAURUSunfair/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
unfairBut 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 advantageThe 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 dismissalFour 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.
fair, Business especially not or because right Corpus not


unfair
unfair S3 /ˌʌnˈfeə◂ $ -ˈfer◂/ adjective
 Word Family: adverb: fairlyunfairly, fair; noun: fairnessunfairness; adjective: fairunfair
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]
     
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.’
     
THESAURUS
    unfair/not fair not right or fair, especially because not everyone has an equal opportunity: The 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 society: He believed it was an illegal and unjust war. | 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. | 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 | 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 | There 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 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. | 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 | 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. | 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.


🔑 un·fairBrE /ˌʌnˈfeə(r)/ 🔊NAmE /ˌʌnˈfer/ 🔊 adjectivenot right or fair according to a set of rules or principles; not treating people equally 不公正的;不公平的;待人不平等的 SYN unjust unfair criticism不公正的批评~ (on/to sb) It seems unfair on him to make him pay for everything. 让他承担一切费用似乎对他不公平。🔊🔊It would be unfair not to let you have a choice. 不让你有所选择是不公平的。🔊🔊They had been given an unfair advantage. 他们得到了不公正的好处。🔊🔊unfair dismissal (= a situation in which sb is illegally dismissed from their job) 不公平解雇measures to prevent unfair competition between member countries防止成员国之间不公平竞争的措施Life seems so unfair sometimes. 人生有时似乎非常不公平。🔊🔊It's so unfair! 这太不公平了!🔊🔊 OPP fair un·fair·ly 🔑 BrE /ˌʌnˈfeəli/ 🔊NAmE /ˌʌnˈferli/ 🔊 adverbShe claims to have been unfairly dismissed. 她声言遭到无理解雇。🔊🔊The tests discriminate unfairly against older people. 这些测验对年纪较大的人不公平。🔊🔊 un·fair·ness BrE /ˌʌnˈfeənəs/ 🔊NAmE /ˌʌnˈfernəs/ 🔊 noun [uncountable]