ebaõigeks

Ebaõigeks is an Estonian adjective meaning "unfair" or "not right," used to describe actions, rules, or decisions that are considered unjust. In usage, it denotes normative evaluation rather than a description of a person, and it can appear in predicative or attributive positions.

The word is formed from the negating prefix eba- attached to the root õige (right/just). The resulting form ebaõigeks expresses that something does not meet standards of fairness or justice and is commonly found in formal or analytical registers, as in discussions of policy or law.

Usage and nuances: ebaõigeks is often preferred in contexts where "unfair" conveys a systemic or procedural fault rather than personal blame. Common alternatives are ebaõiglane (unfair person) and ebaõiglus (unfairness). The phrase ebaõigeks peetud or ebaõigeks hinnatud is used to indicate that something has been judged or deemed unfair. Example: Otsus oli ebaõigeks peetud. Käitumine oli ebaõigeks hinnatud.

Relation and see also: It relates to broader concepts of justice and fairness in the Estonian lexicon; closely connected terms include ebaõiglus and ebaõiglane, which cover unfairness and an unfair person, respectively. The term is most often encountered in written discourse, policy analysis, or ethical debate.