fairness

noun

fair·​ness ˈfer-nəs 

: the quality or state of being fair

especially : fair or impartial treatment : lack of favoritism toward one side or another

This is the real Ponzi scheme that does injury to the American promise of fairness …

—Jesse Jackson

The rules reflect the principles of procedural due process and fundamental fairness prescribed by the Constitution …

—James O. Freedman

… partisan gerrymandering has got so out of hand that it was up to the courts to restore a measure of fairness.

—Jeffrey Toobin

We are living in the harsh world invented by a handful of corporate raiders whose values are completely foreign to the fairness and moderation that had so long served as the proper foundation of American success and the American dream.

—Doris Haddock

He did poorly, but in (all) fairness [=to be fair to him], he was tired.

Synonyms of fairness

• beauty
• beautifulness
• attractiveness
• aesthetics
• elegance

Examples of fairness in a Sentence

a city of incomparable fairness, Venice has enchanted travelers for centuries

fairness was certainly uppermost in the elderly woman's mind as she made arrangements for dividing the family heirlooms among her many grandchildren

Recent Examples on the Web

In fairness, Brown was expressing discontent with the organization and clearly didn't want to be partnered with Jayson Tatum. — David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026

About 7 in 10 AAPI adults say healthcare is one of the most important issues in the election, while only about half say this about foreign policy, crime, immigration, election fairness or climate change. — Terry Tang, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026

In fairness, Florida State still would have needed a 2-point conversion to extend the game even if either of the Hail Mary touchdowns had counted. — ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026

That certification starts with USDA Organic and adds standards for soil health, animal welfare and social fairness. — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing fairness

• fairness doctrine

Rhymes for fairness

• bareness
• squareness
• awareness
• unfairness
• unawareness