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
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Before Chelsea, he was mired in a relegation fight at Everton, eventually steering them to safety in his first season against a backdrop of angry protests against the board and issues with financial fair play rules. Tom Burrows, New York Times, 7 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 Basically, Chelsea’s owners, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, 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, 1 Apr. 2026 Yet, as algorithms begin suggesting shots, the contours of fair play blur. IEEE Spectrum, 18 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fair play

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1500, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fair play was circa 1500

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Cite this Entry

“Fair play.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fair%20play. Accessed 19 May. 2026.

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