fair play
noun
: equitable or impartial treatment : justice
… a country that reveres fair play both on the sports field and off …—
Bob Johnstone
Bob JohnstoneTurnabout is fair play, of course: Gossips should get gossiped about.—Andrew Ferguson
Andrew FergusonExamples of fair play in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
George Orwell famously described national team football as war minus the shooting, believing the sport was driven by nationalism, hatred, and a desire for prestige rather than by fair play or goodwill.
—Simon Chadwick, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
That capital increase would rebalance the club’s accounts and significantly improve its financial fair play position.
—Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 28 May 2026
So, too, was FIFA’s requirement that players sign its fair play declaration.
—Cesar R. Torres, The Conversation, 26 May 2026
Its potency is reflected in the relentless pressures, from Tallahassee and Washington, to bleach American history and outlaw programs that encourage diversity and fair play.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for fair play
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Simon Chadwick, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
That capital increase would rebalance the club’s accounts and significantly improve its financial fair play position.
—Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 28 May 2026
So, too, was FIFA’s requirement that players sign its fair play declaration.
—Cesar R. Torres, The Conversation, 26 May 2026
Its potency is reflected in the relentless pressures, from Tallahassee and Washington, to bleach American history and outlaw programs that encourage diversity and fair play.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for fair play
Cite this Entry
“Fair play.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fair%20play. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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