ósanngjarnt

Ósanngjarnt is an Icelandic adjective meaning unfair or unjust. The word is formed with the negating prefix ó- attached to sanngjarnt, which means fair. It is used to describe actions, decisions, or outcomes that lack fairness or equity and is common in discussions of law, governance, economics, and social policy, as well as in everyday speech.

In legal contexts, ósanngjarnt may describe due process, evidence standards, or sentencing that is perceived as biased or unequal. In political and public discourse, claims that rules, subsidies, or regulatory practices are ósanngjarnt often hinge on the idea that they advantage one group over another. In discussions about society and technology, concerns about discrimination, biased algorithms, or unequal access to resources are frequently labeled ósanngjarnt.

Because perceptions of fairness can vary, ósanngjarnt can be contested; what seems unfair from one perspective may be viewed differently from another. The term is related to sanngjarnt (fair), and to concepts such as réttlæt (justice) and jafnræði (equality). It functions as a normative judgment indicating that a norm, decision, or outcome fails to meet standards of fairness.