What is the Latin word for unfair?

The usual Latin words for “unfair” are inīquus, iniūstus, immeritus; also mereō, dēbeō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“unfair” in Latin

inīquusunjust, unfair; unequal, uneven; unfavourable, disadvantageous iniūstusunjust, wrongful; severe, excessive (punishment); unsuitable immeritusunmerited, unearned, undeserved mereōto deserve, merit; to earn, get, obtain, acquire; to serve, to render service to (with ablative of the person or thing i dēbeōto owe something, to be under obligation to and for something; to be bound, in duty bound to do something; "ought", "mus

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

unfair

iniquus (of persons and things; opposed to aequus; e.g., judge, law, condition): injustus (unjust, of persons and things; opposed to justus, meritus, debitus; e.g., interest): immeritus (undeserved, with preceding negative; e.g., laudes haud immeritae). It is unfair, iniquum or injustum est (with accusative and infinitive): to make unfair demands, iniqua postulare: to show one’s self unfair, iniquum esse in aliquem. An unfair proceeding, inique or injuste factum: to ask anything that is unfair, iniquum postulare.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for unfair?: The usual Latin words for “unfair” are inīquus, iniūstus, immeritus; also mereō, dēbeō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.