1
a
: marked by impartiality and honesty : free from self-interest, prejudice, or favoritism
a very fair person to do business with
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 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
: having very little color, coloring, or pigmentation : very light
fair hair
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
8
: ample
a fair estate
10
: being such to the utmost : utter
a fair treat to watch him—
New Republic
New Republic11
archaic
: free of obstacles
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
1
: in a manner that is honest or impartial or that conforms to rules : in a fair manner
play fair
2
chiefly British
: fairly sense 3
fair makes you want to cry
faired; fairing; fairs
of the weather
: clear
: to join so that the external surfaces blend smoothly
1
: something that is fair or fortunate (see fair entry 1)
3
Did you know?
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’.”
Synonyms
Examples of fair in a Sentence
Adjective
"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.
Noun (1)
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
Adverb
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
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.
Noun (1)
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
Adverb
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
Recent Examples on the WebAndrea Adkins-Hutchins, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024
But what was really noteworthy in that election was that there were a fair number of people who stayed home.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
What gem of a local restaurant doesn’t receive its fair level of acclaim?
—Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 9 Apr. 2024
We’re dedicated to fair, truthful reporting for our diverse communities.
—Patrick Wilson, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2024
Fitzpatrick types 4, 5, and 6 have more melanin that fairer types, which offers greater protection from the sun and skin aging.
—Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2024
Well San Diego’s free community health fair starting at 1 p.m., where there will be health screenings, vaccinations and other community resources.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024
As the world’s largest polluter, emitting about a third of all global greenhouse gases, transitioning to a low-carbon economy in a fair way should be encouraged.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2024
Their active role already goes beyond the asks of current legislation as moderators demonstrate an emphasis on protecting users’ safety, in addition to promoting a fair, open and competitive business ecosystem by protecting brands.
—Jonathan Freger, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Maddalena Fossati, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Apr. 2024
Tarrant County parents are weighing their options for pre-K and child care this fall as enrollment opportunities and fairs are approaching, but there are multiple variables to consider when searching for a family’s best fit.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2024
The exhibition also comes as Asia’s largest art fair, Art Basel Hong Kong, opens its doors to gallerists, dealers and collectors from around the world next week.
—Oscar Holland, CNN, 20 Mar. 2024
Some will be for sale March 16-17 at the Ephemera Society of America’s annual fair at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Old Greenwich, Conn.
—The New York Times, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2024
The European Fine Art Foundation, now known by its acronym TEFAF, was born out of a merger of two other art fairs — Pictura and Antiquairs International, which specialized in paintings and antiques.
—Mike Corder, Quartz, 7 Mar. 2024
For galleries, art fairs also give their brand credibility.
—Pearl Lam, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
The film was presented as an installation by A/political, an art and activist body, during Frieze London, a contemporary art fair.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 26 Mar. 2024
Long surreptitiously retrieved the goat from a barn at the fair, wrote to fair officials explaining the dilemma, and offered to pay for the goat and any expenses incurred from her daughter’s change of heart.
—Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024
Carley Thornell, Travel + Leisure, 19 Jan. 2024
An article on Monday about the Salon Art + Design fair misidentified the material used in an artwork by Robert Mangold.
—New York Times, 15 Nov. 2023
Then there’s Design Miami, the fair affiliated with Art Basel whose galleries specialize in rare design pieces that are museum-quality and achingly covetable.
—Amy Verner, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2023
The fair presented an opportunity for these individuals to use their skills and participate in a project that celebrated free thinking.
—Gillian Bagwell, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Sep. 2023
That will provide more room for attendees — last year’s edition of the street fair drew about 85,000 people over two days, according to Scott Kessler of the Adams Avenues Business Association, under whose auspices the fair is presented.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Sep. 2023
But the nation’s largest state fair — a record 2.5 million people visited last year — produces much more than a good time: The fair funded $18.5 million in philanthropic giving in 2022, much of it allocated for the benefit of Fair Park and South Dallas.
—Terry Wagner, Dallas News, 17 Aug. 2023
Wisconsin State Fair The American state fair started in 1841 in Syracuse, New York, as a uniquely American showcase of newfound abundance, ingenuity and muscle.
—Dennis Romero, NBC News, 26 July 2023
With the full title EXPO Chicago: The International Exposition of Contemporary & Modern Art, the art fair will host some 170 international exhibitors, as well as present panel discussions and lectures on contemporary art and cultural topics.
—Doug George, Chicago Tribune, 12 Apr. 2023
Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 8 Apr. 2024
The payload includes a fairing or shield that is released in space and falls to earth, slowed by a parachute, but that cannot be recovered.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024
SpaceX is developing an extended payload shroud to accommodate the large size of the Gateway modules, which won't fit into a standard SpaceX fairing.
—Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 9 Oct. 2023
On Saturday afternoon, the Journal Sentinel visited and called hardware stores to see how customers were fairing in finding winter weather supplies.
—Tamia Fowlkes, Journal Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2024
The heavy lift rocket, which features a larger diameter fairing for more payload capacity than its competitors, is designed for reuse similar to SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets, but with more power.
—Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2024
Technicians hoisted the Vulcan rocket's payload fairing, containing a commercial lunar lander from Astrobotic, on top of the launch vehicle Wednesday morning at ULA's Vertical Integration Facility.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 22 Dec. 2023
Tenacity is hitching its ride to low-earth orbit packed inside a 5-meter payload fairing of United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket.
—Stephen J. Beard, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2024
The Odysseus lander is seen just prior to encapsulation inside a Falcon 9 nose fairing.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2024
Adjective
This crisis hurts our fair city far more than America’s media will ever tell you.
—Andrea Adkins-Hutchins, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024
But what was really noteworthy in that election was that there were a fair number of people who stayed home.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
What gem of a local restaurant doesn’t receive its fair level of acclaim?
—Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 9 Apr. 2024
We’re dedicated to fair, truthful reporting for our diverse communities.
—Patrick Wilson, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2024
Fitzpatrick types 4, 5, and 6 have more melanin that fairer types, which offers greater protection from the sun and skin aging.
—Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2024
Well San Diego’s free community health fair starting at 1 p.m., where there will be health screenings, vaccinations and other community resources.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024
As the world’s largest polluter, emitting about a third of all global greenhouse gases, transitioning to a low-carbon economy in a fair way should be encouraged.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2024
Their active role already goes beyond the asks of current legislation as moderators demonstrate an emphasis on protecting users’ safety, in addition to promoting a fair, open and competitive business ecosystem by protecting brands.
—Jonathan Freger, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Noun
Antique fairs abound in Campo San Maurizio and San Marco during the winter months.
—Maddalena Fossati, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Apr. 2024
Tarrant County parents are weighing their options for pre-K and child care this fall as enrollment opportunities and fairs are approaching, but there are multiple variables to consider when searching for a family’s best fit.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2024
The exhibition also comes as Asia’s largest art fair, Art Basel Hong Kong, opens its doors to gallerists, dealers and collectors from around the world next week.
—Oscar Holland, CNN, 20 Mar. 2024
Some will be for sale March 16-17 at the Ephemera Society of America’s annual fair at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Old Greenwich, Conn.
—The New York Times, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2024
The European Fine Art Foundation, now known by its acronym TEFAF, was born out of a merger of two other art fairs — Pictura and Antiquairs International, which specialized in paintings and antiques.
—Mike Corder, Quartz, 7 Mar. 2024
For galleries, art fairs also give their brand credibility.
—Pearl Lam, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
The film was presented as an installation by A/political, an art and activist body, during Frieze London, a contemporary art fair.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 26 Mar. 2024
Long surreptitiously retrieved the goat from a barn at the fair, wrote to fair officials explaining the dilemma, and offered to pay for the goat and any expenses incurred from her daughter’s change of heart.
—Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024
Adverb
This was Bush Cook, a three-day community fair held last October at Sejah Farm, a 15-acre livestock and agricultural center in the jungly heart of St. Croix.
—Carley Thornell, Travel + Leisure, 19 Jan. 2024
An article on Monday about the Salon Art + Design fair misidentified the material used in an artwork by Robert Mangold.
—New York Times, 15 Nov. 2023
Then there’s Design Miami, the fair affiliated with Art Basel whose galleries specialize in rare design pieces that are museum-quality and achingly covetable.
—Amy Verner, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2023
The fair presented an opportunity for these individuals to use their skills and participate in a project that celebrated free thinking.
—Gillian Bagwell, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Sep. 2023
That will provide more room for attendees — last year’s edition of the street fair drew about 85,000 people over two days, according to Scott Kessler of the Adams Avenues Business Association, under whose auspices the fair is presented.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Sep. 2023
But the nation’s largest state fair — a record 2.5 million people visited last year — produces much more than a good time: The fair funded $18.5 million in philanthropic giving in 2022, much of it allocated for the benefit of Fair Park and South Dallas.
—Terry Wagner, Dallas News, 17 Aug. 2023
Wisconsin State Fair The American state fair started in 1841 in Syracuse, New York, as a uniquely American showcase of newfound abundance, ingenuity and muscle.
—Dennis Romero, NBC News, 26 July 2023
With the full title EXPO Chicago: The International Exposition of Contemporary & Modern Art, the art fair will host some 170 international exhibitors, as well as present panel discussions and lectures on contemporary art and cultural topics.
—Doug George, Chicago Tribune, 12 Apr. 2023
Verb
Here is how Childers, Pearce, and Stapleton faired after fan voting.
—Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 8 Apr. 2024
The payload includes a fairing or shield that is released in space and falls to earth, slowed by a parachute, but that cannot be recovered.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024
SpaceX is developing an extended payload shroud to accommodate the large size of the Gateway modules, which won't fit into a standard SpaceX fairing.
—Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 9 Oct. 2023
On Saturday afternoon, the Journal Sentinel visited and called hardware stores to see how customers were fairing in finding winter weather supplies.
—Tamia Fowlkes, Journal Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2024
The heavy lift rocket, which features a larger diameter fairing for more payload capacity than its competitors, is designed for reuse similar to SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets, but with more power.
—Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2024
Technicians hoisted the Vulcan rocket's payload fairing, containing a commercial lunar lander from Astrobotic, on top of the launch vehicle Wednesday morning at ULA's Vertical Integration Facility.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 22 Dec. 2023
Tenacity is hitching its ride to low-earth orbit packed inside a 5-meter payload fairing of United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket.
—Stephen J. Beard, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2024
The Odysseus lander is seen just prior to encapsulation inside a Falcon 9 nose fairing.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fair.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to fair
Dictionary Entries Near fair
Cite this Entry
“Fair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fair. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fair
1 of 3 adjective
ˈfa(ə)r 
ˈfe(ə)r
1
: attractive in appearance : beautiful
our fair city
2
a
: clean entry 1 sense 2, pure
fair sparkling water
b
: clear entry 1 sense 3, legible
make a fair copy
3
: not stormy or cloudy
fair weather
4
6
: not dark
fair skin
7
: neither good nor bad
did a fair job
fairness
noun
fair
2 of 3 adverb
: in a fair manner
play fair
fair
3 of 3 noun1
: a gathering of buyers and sellers for trade
2
: an exhibition (as of farm products) usually with accompanying entertainment, amusements, and competitions
3
: a sale of articles usually for a charitable purpose
Etymology
Adjective
Old English fæger "pleasing to the eye or mind"
Noun
Middle English feire "a gathering of buyers and sellers," from early French feire (same meaning), from Latin feria "weekday, fair," derived from earlier feriae (plural) "holidays"
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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