Unfairness

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ʌnˈfɛənəs/

Definitions

1. The quality of treating people or situations in a way that is not just, equitable, or according to what is deserved
2. The state of lacking justice or equity in treatment or circumstances, leading to outcomes that favor some while disadvantaging others
3. A condition characterized by biased treatment or lack of balance that results in injustice towards certain individuals or groups

Etymology: "Unfairness" is a plain compound of "unfair" and the suffix "-ness," with no surprising detour behind it. The suffix "-ness" traces back through Old English "-nes" to a Proto-Germanic noun-forming ending, and it was attached to adjectives to turn a quality into a noun: "kindness," "darkness," "sadness." "Unfair" itself combines the negative prefix "un-" with "fair," so "unfairness" is a noun built on a negated adjective, naming the quality of not being fair. The pattern is productive in English, which is why the word feels so ordinary. Speakers could take almost any adjective and add "-ness" to name its quality, and "unfairness" follows the same route as countless other formations. Its meaning, the lack of justice or equity in how people are treated, grows directly out of the adjective "unfair" rather than shifting away from it.

Synonyms: inequity, injustice, partiality

Antonyms: fairness, justice