unjust

Everyday

1. Unjust means not fair or not right, especially when someone is treated badly without a good reason. tree →
2. (law) An unjust law or punishment goes against fairness and people's rights. tree →

In the lessons

Used in ethics lessons, history (unjust laws, slavery) and stories about wrongs being put right; phrases: «an unjust punishment», «unjust treatment», «it is unjust that…».

Examples

• It was unjust to blame Mia for the broken window. tree →
• The whole class was kept in, which felt unjust. tree →
• People marched against the unjust law. tree →
• The story is about a king who was cruel and unjust. tree →
• Martin Luther King spoke out against unjust treatment. tree →
• Is it unjust to punish everyone for one person's mistake? tree →
• He was so unjust and cruel that he won for himself the name of tyrant. tree →

Note

Opposite: just (fair). Noun: injustice (not «unjustice»). Adverb: unjustly. Stronger and more formal than «unfair».

In Jewish tradition

In the Psalms and Proverbs, an unjust man is a deceitful, wicked person. The righteous pray to God to save them from him.

Interpretation. Jewish law says judges must judge fairly and not twist justice. "Justice, justice shall you pursue" is the rule.

Examples

• Be Thou my judge, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation; O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man. (Writings PSA.43.1, JPS 1917) tree →
• An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous; and he that is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked. (Writings PRO.29.27, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Opposite: just (fair). Noun: injustice (not «unjustice»). Adverb: unjustly. Stronger and more formal than «unfair».