unjust
/'ʌn'dʤʌst/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Not fair or equitable: Describes actions, decisions, or systems that are not based on what is morally right or fair.
- Violating principles of justice: Characterizing something that goes against accepted standards of justice or fairness.
- Not impartial; biased: Involving deception or partiality, leading to an unfair outcome.
Usage and Examples
- General Use:
- The court's decision was widely criticized as unjust. (The decision was considered morally wrong and unfair.)
- They protested against the unjust laws. (The laws were seen as violating principles of fairness.)
- Describing a Person or Their Actions:
- He was known to be an unjust ruler. (The ruler did not govern with fairness.)
- Making an unjust accusation can ruin a person's reputation. (The accusation is made without proper grounds or fairness.)
Advanced Usage and Nuances
- "unjust enrichment": A legal term for gaining a benefit at another's expense in a manner that is not fair or legally justified.
- The company was sued for unjust enrichment after breaching the contract.
- Inherent Bias: Often implies a systemic or deep-seated lack of fairness, not just a single mistake.
- The study highlighted the unjust distribution of resources in the city.
Variants and Related Words
- Unjustly (adverb): In an unjust manner.
- He was unjustly imprisoned for a crime he did not commit.
- Unjustness (noun): The quality or state of being unjust.
- The unjustness of the policy sparked international outrage.
Synonyms
- Unfair: Not based on or behaving according to fair principles.
- Inequitable: Unfair, especially in the distribution of resources or opportunities.
- Biased: Unfairly prejudiced for or against someone or something.
Antonyms
- Just: Based on or behaving according to what is morally right and fair.
- Fair: Treating people equally without favoritism or discrimination.
- Equitable: Characterized by fairness and impartiality.
Idioms and Common Phrases
- "The scales of justice are unjust": A phrase (often adapted) used to criticize a legal or judicial system perceived as being fundamentally unfair.
- Many citizens felt the scales of justice were unjust, favoring the wealthy.
- "Cry injustice": To protest loudly against something perceived as unfair.
- The community cried injustice after the verdict was announced.
Adjective
- not equitable or fair
- the inequitable division of wealth
- inequitable taxation
- violating principles of justice
- unjust punishment
- an unjust judge
- an unjust accusation
- not fair; marked by injustice or partiality or deception
- used unfair methods
- it was an unfair trial
- took an unfair advantage