The Meaning of Injustice: What It Is and How To Use It

Do you know the definition of injustice? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the word injustice, including its definition, etymology, usage, example sentences, and more!

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What does the word injustice mean?

According to the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language as well as other sources like Collins English Dictionary and American Heritage, the word injustice is a noun that means the absence of justice, an unfair action or an unfair act, or the violation of the rights of others – a person, thing, or concept. There are numerous types of injustice – racial injustice, the rights of a person, or homophobia that may be met with protests, or any  other urgent set of challenges that a group of people may be part of an effort to combat. In jurisprudence and Western philosophy, this is the opposite of justice. Some injustices can be small and easy to combat, while others require changes to the larger status quo. Injustice is three syllables – in-jus-tice, and the pronunciation of injustice is ɪnˈdʒʌstɪs.

There are many different languages that contain words that mean injustice. You may notice that several of these languages have translations of injustice that look similar. These are called cognates, which are often formed when two words have the same root or language of origin. This list of translations is provided by Word Sense.

  •  Serbo-Croatian: bèsprāvlje‎ (neut.), bezákonje‎ (neut.)
  •  German: Unrecht‎ (neut.)
  •  Finnish: epäoikeudenmukaisuus‎, vääryys‎
  •  Turkish: adaletsizlik‎
  •  Ancient Greek: ἀδικία‎ (fem.)
  •  Aromanian: nidriptati‎ (fem.), adichii‎ (fem.), strãmbãtati‎ (fem.)
  •  Haitian Creole: abi‎
  •  Swedish: orättvisa‎ (common)
  •  Armenian: անարդարություն‎
  •  Georgian: უსამართლობა‎
  •  Japanese: 不正‎ (ふせい, fusei), 不公平‎ (ふこうへい, fukōhei)
  •  Manx: aggair‎ (masc.)
  •  French: injustice‎ (fem.)
  •  Dutch: onrecht‎ (neut.)
  •  Macedonian: неправда‎
  •  Tagalog: labag sa katarungan‎
  •  Spanish: injusticia‎ (fem.)
  •  Russian: несправедли́вость‎ (fem.)
  •  Catalan: injustícia‎ (fem.)
  •  Galician: inxustiza‎ (fem.)
  •  Romanian: nedreptate‎ (fem.), injustiție‎ (fem.), strâmbătate‎ (fem.) (archaic, popular)
  •  Polish: niesprawiedliwość‎ (fem.)
  •  Ngazidja Comorian: udhulumifu‎ (c11)
  •  Swahili: dhuluma‎
  •  Scottish Gaelic: eucoir‎
  •  Portuguese: injustiça‎ (fem.)
  •  Mandarin: 不平‎ (bùpíng), 不公平‎ (bùgōngpíng)

What are synonyms and antonyms of injustice?

In the English language, there are numerous different words that a person can choose to use in place of the word injustice. These are called synonyms, which are words that have the same definition as a given word. Learning synonyms is a great way to expand your vocabulary and avoid repeating yourself. This list of synonyms is provided by Thesaurus.

  •  villainy
  •  crying shame
  •  trespass
  •  infraction
  •  partiality
  •  discrimination
  •  unjustness
  •  onesidedness
  •  wrongdoing
  •  malpractice
  •  favoritism
  •  outrage
  •  unfairness
  •  abuse
  •  railroad
  •  infringement
  •  maltreatment
  •  unlawfulness
  •  encroachment
  •  ruin
  •  mischief
  •  dirty deal
  •  damage
  •  breach
  •  partisanship
  •  sellout
  •  offense
  •  wrong
  •  violation
  •  malfeasance
  •  miscarriage
  •  inequity
  •  grievance
  •  oppression
  •  inequality
  •  iniquity
  •  negligence
  •  crime
  •  bias
  •  prejudice
  •  transgression
  •  sin 

There are also numerous different words that mean the opposite of injustice. Of course, injustice is the opposite of justice. These opposite words are called antonyms. Learning antonyms is another great, quick, and easy way to expand your knowledge of the English language. This list of antonyms of injustice is also provided by Thesaurus.

  •  authority
  •  evenness
  •  amends
  •  appeal
  •  judicature
  •  legal process
  •  decree
  •  reparation
  •  equity
  •  penalty
  •  truth
  •  law
  •  rule
  •  compensation
  •  right
  •  fairness
  •  justice
  •  creed
  •  authorization
  •  reasonableness
  •  sentence
  •  due process
  •  legality
  •  consideration
  •  legitimacy
  •  charter
  •  lawfulness
  •  litigation
  •  credo
  •  code
  •  fair treatment
  •  recompense
  •  legalization
  •  square deal
  •  correction
  •  fair play
  •  sanction
  •  honesty
  •  integrity
  •  impartiality
  •  rectitude
  •  constitutionality
  •  justness
  •  hearing
  •  review
  •  judicatory
  •  redress

What is the origin of the word injustice?

According to Etymonline, the word injustice has been used since the late 14c  Middle English and comes from the Old French injustice, another 14c word. This comes from the Latin iniustitia/Latin iniūstitia and Latin injustitia meaning unfairness, from the Latin iniustus/iniūstus meaning wrongful or improper. This is formed from the prefix in and the root inustus/iūstus/justus meaning “just.” The related word injust (adj.) has been used from late 15c in French, but this word is written as unjust in English. Unjustly (adv.) is also used, as in unjust (adj.). Unjustice, however, is not used. It is unclear why different prefixes are used.

How can the word injustice be used in a sentence?

The word injustice can be used in many ways in the English language. Using words in a sentence is a great way to remember their definitions. You can also try making flashcards or quizzes for yourself to test your knowledge of the English language. Try using this word of the day in a sentence today! Below are several examples of injustice to get your started.

The human resources leaders took the kickoff event to combat various injustices within the company, including ageism, racial inequality and homophobia. The particular event was eye-opening to many different groups who had received undeserved outcomes in the past. 

The racial injustice protests fought against terrible injustice and for a reckoning for the terrible deed done to the victim of injustice. The protest went viral on Facebook and Twitter, and they raised the equivalent of $1 million globally.

The Supreme Court heard the case regarding the imposition of unjust action on the minority group at Princeton University – some news sources said it was the greatest injustice they had seen in recent memory. 

Overall, the word injustice means an absence of justice, unequal treatment against another group of people, or a violation of the rights of a person, group of people, thing, or concept. This word can be used in many different ways in the English language and is Latin in origin. Try using this word in a sentence today! Once you learn it, you will probably see it start to pop up everywhere – on social media, the news, and more!

Sources:

  1. injustice: meaning, origin, translation | Word Sense 
  2. INJUSTICE Synonyms: 58 Synonyms & Antonyms for INJUSTICE | Thesaurus 
  3. JUSTICE Synonyms: 67 Synonyms & Antonyms for JUSTICE | Thesaurus 
  4. injustice | Origin and meaning of injustice | Online Etymology Dictionary 
  5. Injustice | Definition of Injustice | Merriam-Webster