having qualities which inspire hope
as long as the team keeps playing as hard as they can, they have a fair chance of winning—no matter what the scoreboard says
being what is called for by accepted standards of right and wrong
most thought his dismissal was fair since he had been given many chances to clean up his act
How does the adjective fair contrast with its synonyms?
Some common synonyms of fair are dispassionate, equitable, impartial, just, objective, and unbiased. While all these words mean "free from favor toward either or any side," fair implies a proper balance of conflicting interests.
a fair decision
When is dispassionate a more appropriate choice than fair?
The words dispassionate and fair can be used in similar contexts, but dispassionate suggests freedom from the influence of strong feeling and often implies cool or even cold judgment.
a dispassionate summation of the facts
How are the words equitable and just related as synonyms of fair?
Equitable implies a less rigorous standard than just and usually suggests equal treatment of all concerned.
the equitable distribution of the property
Where would impartial be a reasonable alternative to fair?
The meanings of impartial and fair largely overlap; however, impartial stresses an absence of favor or prejudice.
an impartial third party
When would just be a good substitute for fair?
The words just and fair are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, just implies an exact following of a standard of what is right and proper.
a just settlement of territorial claims
In what contexts can objective take the place of fair?
While in some cases nearly identical to fair, 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
When can unbiased be used instead of fair?
In some situations, the words unbiased and fair are roughly equivalent. However, unbiased implies even more strongly an absence of all prejudice.
your unbiased opinion
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fair
Adjective
Review the numbers, ask for fair credit, and let your talent be supported by clear facts.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
23 Aug. 2026 Granger, remembered as tough but fair, joined Congress in 1997, representing Texas’ 12th Congressional District.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 Aug. 2026
Noun
Officials said additional law enforcement and security were in place throughout the fair, including officers from the Milwaukee and West Allis police departments.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
19 Aug. 2026 This impacts artists payments, general overhead (rent, etc), deposits for art fairs and more.—
Brian Boucher,
ARTnews.com,
19 Aug. 2026
Adverb
The addition of Breitling and the other newcomers further strengthens Watches and Wonders’ position as the industry's premier annual event, continuing a trend that has seen more brands choose the Geneva fair as their primary global showcase.—
Anthony Demarco,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026 Broward voters have the right to elect candidates who are fighting fair on as equal a playing field as possible.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
13 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for fair
Fall is an ideal time to visit Cape Cod, when the summer crowds have thinned out a bit, but sunny days and just a hint of crispness at night are a delight.
—
Kim Foley MacKinnon,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2026
Mostly sunny skies and very little cloud cover will allow temperatures to rise quickly during the afternoon.
The mini mart gave permission to The Original Goodie Shop bakery in Upper Arlington to use its logo on a signature cookie, with $1 from each one sold going to support Beaver's legal fees.
—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Aug. 2026
The editor of the journal Kayhan, Hossein Shariatmadari, wrote that enforcement is both a legal obligation and a religious duty for officials.
The open-plan four-bedroom features polished concrete floors, built-ins with pale wood, and windows placed to maximize energy efficiency.
—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
23 Aug. 2026
The interiors are just as blissful, with terra-cotta walls and smooth, wooden floor-to-ceiling wardrobes adding warmth to pale stone floors and marble bathrooms.
Connecting people with clinical trials is complicated — even if people identify a promising match, there’s a slew of potentially thorny factors, including geographic incompatibility, and financial and time considerations.
—
Michelle Andrews,
Miami Herald,
20 Aug. 2026
But this is one of the most powerful stamina boosting supplements out there, with promising data emerging on brain health, too.
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