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 of fairly

• 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

Washed up loads of cocaine and marijuana are a fairly common sight in the Keys. — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 5 July 2026

The space is fairly typical for a tiny house, with a low ceiling and enough room for another double bed and a little storage. — Adam Williams july 06, New Atlas, 6 July 2026

However, one editor said this orange juice was their favorite because the fairly balanced flavor would go well with foods and not compete with salty or sweet dishes. — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 4 July 2026

Punctuating the fairly flat state, the Badlands contain rock formations that have resulted from millions of years of deposition and hundreds of thousands of years of erosion. — Josh Laskin, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026

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