fair

adjective \ ˈfer \

Updated on: 15 Nov 2017

Definition of fair

1 a : marked by impartiality and honesty : free from self-interest, prejudice, or favoritism

a very fair person to do business with

b (1) : conforming with the established rules : allowed

(2) : consonant with merit or importance : due

a fair share

c : open to legitimate pursuit, attack, or ridicule

fair game

2 a : not very good or very bad : of average or acceptable quality

Her work was only fair.

a patient in upgraded from serious to fair condition

b : sufficient but not ample : adequate

a fair understanding of the work

a fair chance of winning

c : moderately numerous, large, or significant

takes a fair amount of time

a fair number of participants

3 : not stormy or foul : fine

fair weather

4 : not dark

fair skin

a person of fair complexion

5 : pleasing to the eye or mind especially because of fresh, charming, or flawless quality

The innkeeper had two fair daughters.

6 : superficially pleasing : specious

she trusted his fair promises

7 a : clean, pure

fair sparkling water

b : clear, legible

an old manuscript written in a fair hand

8 : ample

a fair estate

9 a : promising, likely

in a fair way to win

b : favorable to a ship's course

a fair wind

10 : being such to the utmost : utter

a fair treat to watch him
—New Republic

11 archaic : free of obstacles

—

fairness

noun

See fair defined for English-language learners

See fair defined for kids

Examples of fair in a Sentence

"You boys not looking for any trouble, are you?" The question was fair. Millat's Crew looked like trouble. —Zadie Smith, White Teeth, (2000) 2001
"I have a good relationship with both Eddie and David. I think they've been fair to me." —Joni Mitchell, quoted in Rolling Stone, 30 May 1991
Everybody out, the Iraqis said, except CNN. Even CNN isn't sure why they made that decision. Perhaps it is because CNN alone is seen globally. What the Iraqis told us is that they had found our coverage since August to have been "fair." —Peter Arnett, Washington Post, 25-31 Mar. 1991
That's a fair question, and it deserves an honest reply.
He is known as a very fair man.
I try to be fair to my children.
He claims that the competition wasn't fair.
It's not fair that she gets to leave early and I don't.
a fair and impartial jury
a bargain that is fair to everyone
“What a bad movie!” “Be fair! Parts of it are actually pretty funny.”
I can't say I liked the movie, but, to be fair, parts of it are pretty funny.
She did poorly on the test, but, to be fair, so did a lot of other people.

Fair in Love and War

For many people, the word fair brings to mind the aphorism “all is fair in love and war.” We have been using some variation of this saying for quite some time, although, as with many such expressions, it is difficult to pinpoint exactly when it began. As far back as 1578 John Lyly wrote “anye impietie may lawfully be committed in loue, which is lawlesse.” We do not see evidence of war juxtaposed with love until 1687, when Aphra Behn wrote “All Advantages are lawful in Love and War” in her play The Emperor of the Moon. By 1717 this had morphed into “All advantages are fair in love and war” in William Taverner’s play The Artful Husband. Finally, by 1789 we find the line used exactly as it is today in the novel The Relapse: “Tho’ this was a confounded lie, my friend, ‘all is fair in love and war’.”

Origin and Etymology of fair

Middle English fager, fair, from Old English fæger; akin to Old High German fagar beautiful

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First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

fair Synonyms

Synonyms

bright, clear, cloudless, sunny, sunshiny, unclouded

Synonym Discussion of fair

fair, just, equitable, impartial, unbiased, dispassionate, objective mean free from favor toward either or any side. fair implies a proper balance of conflicting interests.

- a fair decision

just implies an exact following of a standard of what is right and proper.

- a just settlement of territorial claims

equitable implies a less rigorous standard than just and usually suggests equal treatment of all concerned.

- the equitable distribution of the property

impartial stresses an absence of favor or prejudice.

- an impartial third party

unbiased implies even more strongly an absence of all prejudice.

- your unbiased opinion

dispassionate suggests freedom from the influence of strong feeling and often implies cool or even cold judgment.

- a dispassionate summation of the facts

objective stresses a tendency to view events or persons as apart from oneself and one's own interest or feelings.

- I can't be objective about my own child

synonyms see in addition beautiful

fair

noun

Definition of fair

1 : a gathering of buyers and sellers at a particular place and time for trade

2 a : a competitive exhibition usually with accompanying entertainment and amusements

an agricultural fair

b : an exhibition designed to acquaint prospective buyers or the general public with a product

a book fair

c : an exposition that promotes the availability of services or opportunities

health fairs

job fairs

3 : a sale of assorted articles usually for a charitable purpose

Examples of fair in a Sentence

At night the sparkling lights, hurdy-gurdy music of the merry-go-round, excited children, and screams of the riders on the roller coaster that races overhead recall the gaiety of a carnival midway at a county fair. —Witold Rybczynski, Atlantic, May 1993
Back at the street fair, in the smoky heat among vendors of souvenirs and street food, a flock of kids dances around a boom box playing Lionel Richie. —Barbara Kingsolver, New York Times Magazine, 12 Sept. 1993
"Do you like to go out? You know, party?" "Who doesn't?" "Well, the Ebony Fashion Fair is in three weeks. You want to go?" —Terry McMillan, Waiting to Exhale, 1992

Origin and Etymology of fair

Middle English feire, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin feria weekday, fair, from Late Latin, festal day, from Latin feriae (plural) holidays — more at feast

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First Known Use: 14th century

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fair

adverb

Definition of fair

1 : in a manner that is honest or impartial or that conforms to rules : in a fair manner

play fair

2 chiefly British : fairly 3

fair makes you want to cry

Examples of fair in a Sentence

we expect everyone on this basketball court to play fair
it fair takes your breath away when you find out what properties in London are going for

Origin and Etymology of fair

see ¹fair

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

fair Synonyms

Synonyms

clean, cleanly, fairly, legally

Antonyms

dirty, illegally

Related Words

ethically, high-mindedly, morally, nobly; honorably

Near Antonyms

ignobly, immorally, underhandedly, unethically; dishonorably

fair

verb

Definition of fair

intransitive verb

of the weather : clear

transitive verb

: to join so that the external surfaces blend smoothly

Origin and Etymology of fair

see ¹fair

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1635

See Words from the same year

fair

noun

Definition of fair

1 : something that is fair or fortunate (see ¹fair)

2 obsolete : beauty, fairness

3 archaic : woman; especially : sweetheart

— for fair

: to the greatest extent or degree : fully

the rush is on for fair

— no fair

: something that is not according to the rules

that's no fair

Origin and Etymology of fair

see ¹fair

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

FAIR Defined for English Language Learners

fair

adjective

Definition of fair for English Language Learners

: agreeing with what is thought to be right or acceptable
: treating people in a way that does not favor some over others
: not too harsh or critical

FAIR Defined for Kids

fair

adjective \ ˈfer \

Definition of fair for Students

fairer; fairest

1 : not favoring one over another

Everyone received fair treatment.

2 : observing the rules

fair play

3 : neither good nor bad

He's only a fair singer.

4 : not stormy or cloudy

fair weather

5 : not dark

fair hair

6 : attractive in appearance : beautiful

our fair city

7 : being within the foul lines

a fair ball

—

fairness

noun

fair

adverb

Definition of fair for Students

: according to the rules

play fair

fair

noun

Definition of fair for Students

1 : a large public event at which farm animals and products are shown and entertainment, amusements, and food are provided

a county fair

2 : an event at which people gather to buy, sell, or get information

a job fair

a book fair

3 : a sale of articles for charity

a church fair

Law Dictionary

fair

adjective

legal Definition of fair

1 : characterized by honesty and justice : free from self-interest, deception, injustice, or favoritism

a fair and impartial tribunal

2 : reasonable as a basis for exchange

a fair wage

a fair valuation

3 : consistent with merit or importance

fair and just compensation for the injuries

4 : conforming with established laws or standards : being in accordance with a person's rights under the law

fair judicial process

—

fairly

adverb

—

fairness

noun

Learn More about fair

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Fair in Love and War

Origin and Etymology of fair

fair Synonyms

Synonyms

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fair

Definition of fair

Examples of fair in a Sentence

Origin and Etymology of fair

fair

Definition of fair

Examples of fair in a Sentence

Origin and Etymology of fair

fair Synonyms

Synonyms

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Related Words

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fair

Definition of fair

Origin and Etymology of fair

fair

Definition of fair

Origin and Etymology of fair

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FAIR Defined for English Language Learners

fair

Definition of fair for English Language Learners

FAIR Defined for Kids

fair

Definition of fair for Students

fairness

fair

Definition of fair for Students

fair

Definition of fair for Students

Law Dictionary

fair

legal Definition of fair

fairly

fairness

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