noun

iniquity

ih-NIK-wuh-tee/ɪˈnɪkwəti/

Gravely unjust or immoral behavior.

Taking food from a hungry family exposes the corrupt official's iniquity.

Corrupt rich official takes poor family's food while hungry children watch; sober, clear injustice.

Etymology

inLatinnot

+iquLatinequal, just

+ityLatinstate or quality

The pieces express a state of being unequal or unjust. Latin used unevenness figuratively for unfairness and injustice; the English word developed the broader moral sense of evil or wickedness.

In context

Storytime Haven517:59

I never believed that so much iniquity existed in the world, or that men could fight a defenseless woman with such double-dealing and cruel ingenuity.

The Czar's Spy: The Mystery of a Silent Love 🕵️‍♂️💘 | William Le Queux Classic Spy Thriller

More examples

She speaks out against the iniquity of human trafficking.
The regime's iniquities include torture and forced labor.
They use their sermons to condemn greed and iniquity.

Forms

iniquity · iniquities

iniquitous adjective — Gravely unjust or morally wrong.

Similar words

injustice: Emphasizes unfair treatment rather than grave moral evil.
wickedness: Emphasizes deep moral evil rather than unfair treatment.
wrongdoing: Covers improper or illegal acts, including less serious offenses.