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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Because the games are unregulated, players have no guarantee of fair play or payouts, and customers have reported walking away empty-handed after winning jackpots. Miami Herald, 13 Nov. 2025 Integrity, honesty and fair play are part of the DNA of professional sports. Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 9 Nov. 2025 In 2022-23, Chelsea picked up the sixth-most points in the fair play table (86). Simon Johnson, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025 From high school track meets to NCAA championships, the participation of transgender women in female sports has, in the opinion of some, altered outcomes, raised safety concerns and challenged the principle of fair play. Amanda Siegrist, The Conversation, 15 Sep. 2025 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 30 Nov. 2025.

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