uhn-FER-lee
/əˈnfɛɹli/
unfairly is pronounced uhn-FER-lee (/əˈnfɛɹli/). Unfairly describes an action done in a way that is unjust or biased, lacking fairness. It applies to judgments, treatments, or decisions that favor one side over another, often implying prejudice or improper conduct. The term emphasizes the manner in which fairness was compromised rather than the outcome alone.
Unfairly describes an action done in a way that is unjust or biased, lacking fairness. It applies to judgments, treatments, or decisions that favor one side over another, often implying prejudice or improper conduct. The term emphasizes the manner in which fairness was compromised rather than the outcome alone.
"The referee ruled unfairly, leading to protests from the crowd."
"She was treated unfairly by the committee, which ignored her evidence."
"Labeling the results unfairly undermines the winner’s credibility."
Pronounced as /ˌənˈferli/ (US/UK/AU share the same core). Start with a light, unstressed 'uh' sound /ə/ in the first syllable, then /n/; the second syllable has the stressed /ˈfer/ with a strong 'fer' as in 'fer-' from 'fair' with an /eər/ quality in some accents. The final syllable is a light /li/ (like 'lee'). Focus on the stress: un-FAIR-ly, with primary stress on the second syllable. For reference, listen to native speech: Pronounce channel clips or Cambridge/Oxford audio dictionaries.
Common errors: misplacing stress on the first syllable (uun-FAIR-ly). Another is pronouncing the second syllable with a dull /ɜː/ or an extended /ɪ/ instead of /fɚ/; ensure the /fer/ has a clear /f/ + /ɜr/ or /fɛə/ depending on accent. Finally, the final -ly often becomes /li/ with too much consonant release, or it’s reduced to /lɪ/ in rapid speech; keep it light and quick. Practice by isolating /ˌənˈferli/ and aligning the mouth to /ˈfer/ before a brief /li/.
In US English, /ˌənˈferli/ with rhotic /r/ in the /fer/ portion and a clear /l/ and /i/. In UK English, /ˌʌnˈfeəl.li/ or /ˌənˈfeːl.li/, with non-rhotic vocalic rhymes and a tighter /ə/ before the /n/. Australians often merge the /æ/ to /eɪ/ or /eə/ in the first syllable depending on speaker, and the /li/ may be shorter. The key is how the second syllable carries the /er/ or /eə/ vowel and whether the 'r' is pronounced (rhotic) or not. Listen for the second syllable vowel quality and the final 'ly' timing to gauge accents.
The difficulty lies in the two phonetic shifts: the unstressed first syllable with a schwa /ə/ and the stressed second syllable containing /fer/ which requires accurate /f/ + /ɜː/ or /eə/ coloration depending on accent, plus the final light /li/ without excessive aspiration. Coordinating the three syllables quickly, while keeping the 'ir' sound crisp in /fer/ and not blending it with the /l/ at the end, makes it tricky, especially for non-native speakers.
A distinct feature is the 'fair' segment in the stressed syllable; ensure the /fer/ is not mispronounced as /fɜr/ in non-rhotic accents, or as /feɪr/; keep it compact as /fəːr/ or /fɜːr/ depending on dialect, followed by a light /li/ without a strong 'y' glide. The boundary between /fer/ and /li/ should be clean, with the final /li/ shorter than a full syllable in fast speech.
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Unfairly is formed from the prefix un- meaning not or opposite of, the word fair, and the adverbial suffix -ly. Fair itself traces to Old English faeger (pleasant, beautiful, agreeable) and fæger in various senses, evolving to mean just, lawful, equitable. The prefix un- has long been used in English to negate adjectives and participles; in this case it signals deviation from fairness. The sense of fairness as equity, honesty, and impartiality developed in Middle English legal and moral discourse. The adverbial -ly, historically from Old English -lic, attaches to adjectives to form adverbs, indicating the manner of an action. The earliest printed attestations of unfairly appear in the 18th century as legal and moral discussions broadened to include issues of justice and bias. Over time, unfairly has remained stable in meaning, used in formal and informal registers to critique biased behavior, judgments, or processes, often in contexts involving rights, competition, or evaluation. In modern usage, unfairly frequently collocates with outcomes, decisions, accusations, and policies, preserving its core sense of a lack of fairness in the manner something is conducted or determined.
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Words that rhyme with "unfairly"
-ely sounds
-rly sounds
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