fair play

noun

: equitable or impartial treatment : justice

… a country that reveres fair play both on the sports field and off …

—Bob Johnstone

Turnabout is fair play, of course: Gossips should get gossiped about.

—Andrew Ferguson

Examples of fair play in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Absolutely fair play to Sergej Jakirovic and his players for a superb start to life back in the Premier League. — Duncan Alexander, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Its founder described the goal as teaching sportsmanship, fair play and teamwork. — Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026

Basically, Chelsea’s owners sold the women’s team to themselves, and the deal helped the team comply with the EPL’s financial fair play rules. — Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 24 Aug. 2026

This development complicates Barcelona's pursuit, especially given their ongoing financial fair play constraints. — Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1500, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fair play

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• assez
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway