injustice

Everyday

1. Injustice is unfairness: a situation where people are not treated equally or are not given what they deserve. tree →
2. An injustice is a particular unfair act, such as punishing the wrong person. tree →

In the lessons

In ethics, history and RE lessons, pupils learn about injustices such as slavery, unequal rights and poverty, and people who fought injustice, like Martin Luther King. In stories, injustice drives the plot: the hero is wrongly blamed. Phrases: «a sense of injustice», «fight injustice», «a great injustice», «do someone an injustice» (judge them unfairly).

Examples

• Martin Luther King fought against the injustice of racism. tree →
• It was an injustice to blame Tom for the broken window. tree →
• She felt a burning sense of injustice. tree →
• Slavery was a terrible injustice. tree →
• Many people work to end injustice in the world. tree →
• You do him an injustice: he is kinder than you think. tree →
• A Man once saw a ship go down with all its crew, and commented severely on the injustice of the gods. tree →

Note

Can be uncountable (injustice in general) or countable (an injustice, injustices). Opposite: «justice». Adjective «unjust». The prophets in the Bible often spoke out against injustice to the poor.

In Jewish tradition

It means unfairness or wrong, and Job and Proverbs contrast it with righteousness.

Interpretation. Tradition prizes justice highly and teaches that even a little gained honestly is better than wealth gained by wrong.

Examples

• Is there injustice on my tongue? (Writings JOB.6.30, JPS 1917) tree →
• Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice. (Writings PRO.16.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• Return, I pray you, let there be no injustice; yea, return again, my cause is righteous. (Writings JOB.6.29, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Can be uncountable (injustice in general) or countable (an injustice, injustices). Opposite: «justice». Adjective «unjust». The prophets in the Bible often spoke out against injustice to the poor.