3 syllables: in, just, ice. Stress on just.
/ˌɪˈndʒʌstɪs/
Say it backInjustice refers to a state or situation where fairness is violated or denied, often describing systematic or deliberate inequity. It conveys moral wrongs that contravene accepted standards of justice, law, or ethics. The term can describe social, legal, or personal contexts in which rights are not respected or protected.
"The protest highlighted the injustice faced by marginalized communities."
"She spoke out against the injustice of the legal system."
"Teachers are addressing the injustice students feel from biased grading."
Say in- JUS - tice with the primary stress on the second syllable: /ɪnˈdʒʌs.tɪs/. The sequence blends /dʒ/ after the nasal /n/, then an unstressed /t/ before /ɪ/. In careful speech, you’ll clearly articulate /dʒ/ and the final /ɪs/. Audio check: try saying ‘in’ + ‘justice’ slowly, then increase speed while keeping the /dʒ/ crisp. IPA guides: /ɪnˈdʒʌs.tɪs/.
Common errors include: misplacing stress (saying in-JUS-tis or IN-jus-tice), softening the /dʒ/ to a /j/ or /dʒ/ becoming a /ʒ/; and t-voicing blend issues causing a slurred /t/ before /ɪ/. Correction tips: maintain secondary stress on the second syllable, produce a clear /dʒ/ as in judge, ensure the /t/ is an aspirated stop before the final /ɪs/; practice spacing between /dʒ/ and /s/ to avoid blending.
US/UK/AU share /ɪnˈdʒʌs.tɪs/ with slight vowel quality differences. US tends to sharper /æ/ or /ʌ/ in /ʌ/; UK often a slightly tighter vowel in /ʌ/ and faster alveolar stops; AU tends to a more centralized or broader /ʌ/ with light rhoticity. The /r/ is not pronounced in non-rhotic accents; the /t/ is usually a true stop, not flapped. Overall, accent differences are subtle; the core /ɪnˈdʒʌs.tɪs/ remains consistent.
It challenges you on two fronts: the /n/ to /dʒ/ transition requires smooth coarticulation, and the secondary stress on the second syllable demands precise energy distribution. The /dʒ/ blends with the following /s/ subtly; keeping the /t/ separate before /ɪ/ helps clarity. Tongue positioning must switch quickly from the nasal /n/ to the alveo-palatal /dʒ/, with the jaw lowering slightly for the /ɪs/ ending.
Do you pronounce the second syllable as /dʒʌs/ or /dʒəs/? The standard is /ɪnˈdʒʌs.tɪs/, with a clearly stressed /dʒʌs/ and a light, unstressed /tɪs/ at the end. The /ʌ/ vowel in /dʒʌs/ should be more open than a schwa, giving the emphasis needed for the syllable. Pay attention to the subtle reduction in fast speech, but keep the /dʒ/ crisp for intelligibility.
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US: more rhotic and sharper /ɪ/ in the first syllable, /ʌ/ in the second; UK: non-rhotic, slight reduction in /ɪ/; AU: broad vowels, lighter /r/; general trend: keep /ɪn/ bound, ensure /dʒ/ is strong, /t/ is released before /ɪ/.
Injustice derives from the base adjective just, from Old French justice, via Latin iustitia, from iustus meaning lawfully, just. The English form justice arose in Middle English around the 13th century, evolving to refer to the quality of being just and the administration of law. Injustice, formed with the prefix in- (not) + justice, appears by the 16th century to denote lack of justice or fairness. Over time, its usage broadened from strictly legal contexts to moral, social, and political spheres, capturing systemic inequalities, violations of rights, and ethical wrongs. The word carries strong normative charge, often paired with phrases like “grave injustice,” “perceived injustice,” or “racial injustice,” signaling moral indictment beyond mere error. Its semantic field encompasses both individual acts and structural inequities, reflecting shifts in jurisprudence, civil rights discourse, and debates about fairness in governance.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "injustice" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "injustice"
-ice sounds
-me) sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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