fairly

adverb

fair·​ly ˈfer-lē 

1

: in a handsome manner

a table fairly set

2

obsolete

a

: in a gentle manner : quietly

b

: in a courteous manner

3

: so to speak : nearly, practically

fairly bursting with pride

4

a

: in a proper or legal manner

fairly priced stocks

b

: without bias or distortion : impartially

a story told fairly and objectively

5

: to a full degree or extent : plainly, distinctly

had fairly caught sight of him

6

: rather sense 5, moderately

a fairly easy job

Synonyms

• pretty
• relatively
• quite
• rather
• somewhat

Examples of fairly in a Sentence

It's a fairly common disease.

I told the story as fairly as possible.

He reports fairly on the issues.

He beat me fairly and squarely.

Recent Examples on the Web

Experts say that my experience is fairly common for single parents, given that modern families are dealing with a rising cost of living—everything from rent to groceries is steadily getting more expensive. —Sarah Bregel, Parents, 28 Oct. 2025

By most accounts, Hooch was a fairly respectable businessman, but he was convicted of murder after shooting the popular banker and stealing $20. —Graham Averill, Outside, 28 Oct. 2025

Wall Street is roaring, Silicon Valley is booming with the potential of Silicon Valley, unemployment is fairly steady and GDP is on the rise. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025

Mixing polished nickel and chrome, which are fairly similar, looks more like a mistake than pairing polished nickel with unlacquered brass. —Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for fairly

• barely
• rarely
• squarely
• unfairly

Kids Definition

fairly

adverb

fair·​ly ˈfa(ə)r-lē 

ˈfe(ə)r-

1

: in a favorable manner

fairly situated

2

: in a manner of speaking : nearly

fairly bursting with pride

3

: in a fair manner : justly

treat each person fairly

4

: for the most part : rather

a fairly easy job