Definition of 'fair'

Word Frequency

fair

(feəʳ )

Word forms: comparative fairer , superlative fairest , plural fairs

1. adjective

Something or someone that is fair is reasonable, right, and just.

It didn't seem fair to leave out her father.

Do you feel they're paying their fair share?

Independent observers say the campaign's been very much fairer than expected.

I wanted them to get a fair deal.

He claims that he would not get a fair trial.

Synonyms: unbiased, impartial, even-handed, unprejudiced More Synonyms of fair

fairly adverb [usually ADVERB after verb, oft ADV -ed]

...demonstrating concern for employees and solving their problems quickly and fairly.

In a society where water was precious, it had to be shared fairly between individuals.

Synonyms: equitably, objectively, legitimately, honestly More Synonyms of fair

2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]

A fair amount, degree, size, or distance is quite a large amount, degree, size, or distance.

My neighbours across the street travel a fair amount.

My mother's brother lives a fair distance away so we don't see him and his family very often.

3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]

A fair guess or idea about something is one that is likely to be correct.

It's a fair guess to say that the damage will be extensive.

I have a fair idea of how difficult things can be.

4. adjective

If you describe someone or something as fair, you mean that they are average in standard or quality, neither very good nor very bad.

Reimar had a fair command of English.

Synonyms: respectable, middling, average, reasonable More Synonyms of fair

5. adjective

Someone who is fair, or who has fair hair, has light-coloured hair.

Both children were very like Robina, but were much fairer than she was.

Fair is also a combining form.

...a tall, fair-haired Englishman.

6. adjective

Fair skin is very pale and usually burns easily.

It's important to protect my fair skin from the sun.

Synonyms: light-complexioned, white, pale More Synonyms of fair

Fair is also a combining form.

Fair-skinned people shouldn't spend a great deal of time in the sun.

7. adjective

When the weather is fair, it is quite sunny and not raining.

[formal]

Weather conditions were fair.

Synonyms: fine, clear, dry, bright More Synonyms of fair

8. countable noun [usually noun NOUN]

A county, state, or country fair is an event where there are, for example, displays of goods and animals, and amusements, games, and competitions.

9. countable noun

A fair is the same as a funfair.

[British]regional note: in AM, use carnival

10. countable noun [oft noun NOUN]

A fair is an event at which people display and sell goods, especially goods of a particular type.

...an antiques fair.

11. See also craft fair, trade fair

12.

See (to) be fair

13.

See fair enough

14.

See fair enough

15.

See to play fair

16.

See it's fair to say

17.

See fair and square

18. a fair crack of the whip

More Synonyms of fair

Video: pronunciation of
fair

fair in British English 1

(fɛə )

adjective

free from discrimination, dishonesty, etc; just; impartial

in conformity with rules or standards; legitimate

a fair fight

(of the hair or complexion) light in colour

beautiful or lovely to look at

moderately or quite good

a fair piece of work

unblemished; untainted

(of the tide or wind) favourable to the passage of a vessel

sunny, fine, or cloudless

9. (prenominal) informal

thorough; real

a fair battle to get to the counter

10.

pleasant or courteous

11.

apparently good or valuable, but really false

fair words

12.

open or unobstructed

a fair passage

13. Australian

(of handwriting) clear and legible

14. See a fair crack of the whip

15. See fair and square

16. See fair do's

17. See fair enough!

18. See fair go!

19. See fair to middling

adverb

20.

in a fair way; correctly

act fair, now!

21.

absolutely or squarely; quite

the question caught him fair off his guard

22. dialect

really or very

fair tired

verb

23. (intransitive) dialect

(of the weather) to become fine and mild

noun

24. archaic

a person or thing that is beautiful or valuable, esp a woman

Derived forms

fairness (ˈfairness)

noun

Word origin

Old English fæger; related to Old Norse fagr, Old Saxon, Old High German fagar, Gothic fagrs suitable

Word Frequency

fair in British English 2

(fɛə )

noun

a travelling entertainment with sideshows, rides, etc, esp one that visits places at the same time each year

a gathering of producers of and dealers in a given class of products to facilitate business

a book fair

an event including amusements and the sale of goods, esp for a charity; bazaar

a regular assembly at a specific place for the sale of goods, esp livestock

Word origin

C13: from Old French feire, from Late Latin fēria holiday, from Latin fēriae days of rest: related to festus festal

Word Frequency

fair in American English 1

(fɛr )

adjective

attractive; beautiful; lovely

unblemished; clean

a fair name

light in color; blond

fair hair

clear and sunny; free from storm or the threat of storm

easy to read; clear

a fair hand

just and honest; impartial; unprejudiced; specif., free from discrimination based on race, religion, sex, etc.

fair employment practices, fair housing

according to the rules

a fair blow

likely; promising; advantageous

he is in a fair way to make money

pleasant and courteous

10.

favorable; helpful

a fair wind

11.

of moderately good size

a fair fortune

12.

neither very bad nor very good; average

in fair condition

13.

apparently favorable but really false; specious

fair words

14. Archaic

without obstacles; clear and open

a fair road

15. Baseball

of or having to do with the part of the field on or between the foul lines, including home plate

noun

16. Obsolete

beauty

17. Archaic

a woman

18. Archaic

something fair, or good

adverb

19.

in a fair manner

20.

straight; squarely

struck fair in the face

21. Baseball

in or into the part of the field that is on or between the foul lines, including home plate

verb intransitive

22. Dialectal

to become clear

said of the weather

verb transitive

23.

to give a smooth or streamlined surface to

SIMILAR WORDS: ˈbeautiful

Idioms:

fair and square

fair to middling

no fair

SYNONYMY NOTE: fair1, the general word, implies the treating of both or all sides alike, without reference to one's own feelings or interests [a fair exchange]; just1 implies adherence to a standard of rightness or lawfulness without reference to one's own inclinations [a just decision]; impartial, unbiased both imply freedom from prejudice for or against any side [an impartial chairman, an unbiased account]; dispassionate implies the absence of passion or strong emotion, hence, connotes cool, disinterested judgment [a dispassionate critic]; objective implies a viewing of persons or things without reference to oneself, one's interests, etc. [an objective newspaper]

OPPOSITES: prejudiced, biased

Derived forms

fairness (ˈfairness)

noun

Word origin

ME < OE fæger, akin to fain, Goth fagrs, apt, fit < IE base *pek-, to be content, make (something) pretty > Lith púošiu, to ornament; (sense 3) < notion that light coloring was desirable

Word Frequency

fair in American English 2

(fɛr )

noun

1. Obsolete

a gathering of people held at regular intervals for barter and sale of goods

a festival or carnival where there is entertainment and things are sold, often for charity; bazaar

3. US

an event consisting of a usually competitive exhibition of livestock, handicrafts, garden produce, etc. plus amusement facilities and educational displays

world's fair

any of various shows or conventions on a particular theme, typically consisting of booths, educational exhibits, vendors, etc.: usually in combination

science fair, book fair

Word origin

ME feire < OFr < ML feria < LL, holiday (in LL(Ec), weekday) < L feriae, pl., festivals < OL fesiae, akin to L festus (see feast) < IE base *dhēs-, used in religious terms > Oscan fíísnu, temple, Arm dikʼ, gods

Examples of 'fair' in a sentence
fair

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Your bargaining skills are turned on but ensuring a deal is fair also makes it lucky.Then it is fair enough to be branded a socialite.Age is no barrier to being tried as long as the trial is fair and the evidence is clear.That is fair, just and manifestly necessary.She also added a fair bit of other stuff that wouldn't do well on notebooks.It's about giving people a fair chance.It's fair to say we got well and truly hammered last night.I have spent a fair amount of time on all that.It is a fair question.Actually, that's not quite fair.