uhn-FER-nuhs
/əˈnfɛɹnəs/
unfairness is pronounced uhn-FER-nuhs (/əˈnfɛɹnəs/). Unfairness is the quality or state of being not just or equitable, often implying bias, partiality, or irregularity in treatment or outcomes. It denotes conditions or actions that deviate from impartiality, fairness, or acceptable norms, and can provoke resentment or protest. The term is commonly used in social, legal, and workplace contexts to critique disproportionate or unjust practices.
Unfairness is the quality or state of being not just or equitable, often implying bias, partiality, or irregularity in treatment or outcomes. It denotes conditions or actions that deviate from impartiality, fairness, or acceptable norms, and can provoke resentment or protest. The term is commonly used in social, legal, and workplace contexts to critique disproportionate or unjust practices.
"The committee was criticized for its unfairness in awarding grants to favored applicants."
"She spoke out against the unfairness of the ruling that affected many families."
"There is a sense of unfairness when promotions are given based on longevity rather than merit."
You pronounce it as /ənˈfernəs/ in US and UK. Start with a schwa before, then enter the stressed syllable FAIR pronounced as /fer/ with a long E, and finish with -ness as /nəs/. Tip: the sequence is unstressed-FAIR-ness, so the V in /ə/ reduces before the stressed /ˈfer/. Mouth: lips neutral, jaw drops slightly for /ə/, then the tongue finishes high-front for /f/ and then open-/ɹ/ with the /r/ followed by a light /n/ and a reduced /əs/.
Common errors include misplacing the primary stress on the first syllable (saying /ˈənfernəs/), pronouncing the middle /r/ too weak or silent, and blending -ness too strongly into the preceding /ən/ or /fer/ making /ənˈfɜːrnəs/. Correction: ensure the stress is on the second syllable: un-FAIR-ness, use a clear /fer/ with a voiced /r/ then a light, reduced final /nəs/. Practice with slow enunciations then speed up while keeping the vowel reduction in the unstressed syllable.
In US English, /ənˈfernəs/ with rhotics; in many UK accents, /ənˈfeənəs/ or /ənˈfɑːnəs/ with less rhoticity in non-rhotic varieties; Australian tends toward /ənˈfeənəs/ with clear /ə/ in the first syllable and a slightly flatter /ɜ/ in the stressed vowel. The most salient differences are vowel quality in the stressed /eɚ/ sequence and rhotics. Keep the stress location constant while adjusting rhotic pronunciation and vowel height to match the target accent.
Two challenges: first, the medial sequence FAIR involves a tense front vowel /eɚ/ in many varieties, which can be tricky to hold while moving into the final -ness; second, the consonant cluster ends with a quick /nəs/ after a voiced /r/, which can cause syllable reduction or misarticulation if you rush. Focus on maintaining distinct /fer/ and a clean /n/ before a light /əs/. The issue is keeping the stressed vowel clear while letting the final -ness devoice slightly in rapid speech.
The word’s stress is on the second syllable; treat the sequence as un-FAIR-ness. A helpful cue is to exaggerate the /fer/ portion briefly in practice, then relax into a natural pace. Visualize the mouth as: lips neutral, teeth gently touching for /f/ sound, tongue close to alveolar ridge for /ɹ/ after /fer/, and a quick, light stop at the final /n/ before a soft /əs/.
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Unfairness derives from the prefix un- (indicating negation) attached to fair, which comes from Old English faeger (beautiful, lovely) and fair in the sense of pleasing, attractive, or just. In Middle English, fair broadened to mean both beautiful and agreeable, and also just or proper. The suffix -ness forms abstract nouns denoting a state or quality. The combination unsettles the notion of fairness by negating it, yielding a state or quality of not being fair. The word’s modern sense of injustice or inequity consolidated over centuries of legal, social, and political discourse, with “unfair” appearing in English legal and moral discussions by the 15th–17th centuries and “unfairness” following as the corresponding noun form describing biased or unjust conditions. It is now common in formal and colloquial use to critique systems, treatments, or outcomes that lack impartiality or equal consideration. The evolution tracks from moral judgments about justice to institutional assessments of equity in law, employment, and media representation, reflecting growing sensitivity to systemic bias and discrimination. First known uses often appear in reformist writings where advocates called out unfairness in governance or contest rules, gradually becoming part of everyday speech to label perceived injustices across domains. In contemporary usage, unfairness often collocates with terms like “perceived unfairness,” “perceived unfairness in competition,” and “addressing unfairness.”
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Words that rhyme with "unfairness"
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