unfairly
UK: ʌnˈfeəli | US: ʌnˈferli
adv. in a manner that is unjust or biased
adv. without fairness or honesty
The word "unfairly" combines the prefix "un-" (Old English "un-," meaning "not") with the root "fair" (Old English "fæger," meaning "just" or "pleasing") and the adverbial suffix "-ly" (Old English "-lice," used to form adverbs). The term evolved from the concept of fairness in judgment or treatment, with "un-" negating it to imply injustice. Over time, "fair" expanded from aesthetic ("pleasing") to moral ("just"), and "unfairly" emerged to describe actions lacking equity.
The referee was accused of calling the game unfairly.
She felt she had been treated unfairly by her employer.
The law was applied unfairly to marginalized communities.
He argued that the competition rules favored some participants unfairly.
The teacher graded the papers unfairly, according to the students.