fair

1 of 5

adjective

1
a
: marked by impartiality and honesty : free from self-interest, prejudice, or favoritism
a very fair person to do business with
b(1)
: conforming with the established rules : allowed
(2)
: consonant with merit or importance : due
a fair share
c
: open to legitimate pursuit, attack, or ridicule
fair game
2
a
: not very good or very bad : of average or acceptable quality
Her work was only fair.
a patient upgraded from serious to fair condition
b
: sufficient but not ample : adequate
a fair understanding of the work
a fair chance of winning
c
: moderately numerous, large, or significant
takes a fair amount of time
a fair number of participants
3
: not stormy or foul : fine
fair weather
4
: having very little color, coloring, or pigmentation : very light
fair hair
fair skin
a person of fair complexion
5
: pleasing to the eye or mind especially because of fresh, charming, or flawless quality
The innkeeper had two fair daughters.
6
: superficially pleasing : specious
she trusted his fair promises
7
a
: clean, pure
fair sparkling water
b
: clear, legible
an old manuscript written in a fair hand
8
: ample
a fair estate
9
a
: promising, likely
in a fair way to win
b
: favorable to a ship's course
a fair wind
10
: being such to the utmost : utter
a fair treat to watch himNew Republic
11
archaic : free of obstacles

fair

2 of 5

noun (1)

1
: a gathering of buyers and sellers at a particular place and time for trade
2
a
: a competitive exhibition usually with accompanying entertainment and amusements
an agricultural fair
b
: an exhibition designed to acquaint prospective buyers or the general public with a product
a book fair
c
: an exposition that promotes the availability of services or opportunities
health fairs
job fairs
3
: a sale of assorted articles usually for a charitable purpose

fair

3 of 5

adverb

1
: in a manner that is honest or impartial or that conforms to rules : in a fair manner
play fair
2
chiefly British : fairly sense 3
fair makes you want to cry

fair

4 of 5

verb

faired; fairing; fairs

intransitive verb

of the weather : clear

transitive verb

: to join so that the external surfaces blend smoothly

fair

5 of 5

noun (2)

1
: something that is fair or fortunate (see fair entry 1)
2
obsolete : beauty, fairness
3
archaic : woman
especially : sweetheart
Phrases
for fair
: to the greatest extent or degree : fully
the rush is on for fair
no fair
: something that is not according to the rules
that's no fair

Did you know?

Fair in Love and War

For many people, the word fair brings to mind the aphorism “all is fair in love and war.” We have been using some variation of this saying for quite some time, although, as with many such expressions, it is difficult to pinpoint exactly when it began. As far back as 1578 John Lyly wrote “anye impietie may lawfully be committed in loue, which is lawlesse.” We do not see evidence of war juxtaposed with love until 1687, when Aphra Behn wrote “All Advantages are lawful in Love and War” in her play The Emperor of the Moon. By 1717 this had morphed into “All advantages are fair in love and war” in William Taverner’s play The Artful Husband. Finally, by 1789 we find the line used exactly as it is today in the novel The Relapse: “Tho’ this was a confounded lie, my friend, ‘all is fair in love and war’.”

Choose the Right Synonym for fair

fair, just, equitable, impartial, unbiased, dispassionate, objective mean free from favor toward either or any side.

fair implies a proper balance of conflicting interests.

a fair decision

just implies an exact following of a standard of what is right and proper.

a just settlement of territorial claims

equitable implies a less rigorous standard than just and usually suggests equal treatment of all concerned.

the equitable distribution of the property

impartial stresses an absence of favor or prejudice.

an impartial third party

unbiased implies even more strongly an absence of all prejudice.

your unbiased opinion

dispassionate suggests freedom from the influence of strong feeling and often implies cool or even cold judgment.

a dispassionate summation of the facts

objective stresses a tendency to view events or persons as apart from oneself and one's own interest or feelings.

I can't be objective about my own child

synonyms see in addition beautiful

Examples of fair in a Sentence

Adjective "You boys not looking for any trouble, are you?" The question was fair. Millat's Crew looked like trouble. Zadie Smith, White Teeth, (2000) 2001
"I have a good relationship with both Eddie and David. I think they've been fair to me." Joni Mitchell, quoted in Rolling Stone, 30 May 1991
Everybody out, the Iraqis said, except CNN. Even CNN isn't sure why they made that decision. Perhaps it is because CNN alone is seen globally. What the Iraqis told us is that they had found our coverage since August to have been "fair." Peter Arnett, Washington Post, 25-31 Mar. 1991
That's a fair question, and it deserves an honest reply. He is known as a very fair man. I try to be fair to my children. He claims that the competition wasn't fair. It's not fair that she gets to leave early and I don't. a fair and impartial jury a bargain that is fair to everyone “What a bad movie!” “Be fair! Parts of it are actually pretty funny.” I can't say I liked the movie, but, to be fair, parts of it are pretty funny. She did poorly on the test, but, to be fair, so did a lot of other people. Noun (1) At night the sparkling lights, hurdy-gurdy music of the merry-go-round, excited children, and screams of the riders on the roller coaster that races overhead recall the gaiety of a carnival midway at a county fair. Witold Rybczynski, Atlantic, May 1993
Back at the street fair, in the smoky heat among vendors of souvenirs and street food, a flock of kids dances around a boom box playing Lionel Richie. Barbara Kingsolver, New York Times Magazine, 12 Sept. 1993
"Do you like to go out? You know, party?" "Who doesn't?" "Well, the Ebony Fashion Fair is in three weeks. You want to go?" Terry McMillan, Waiting to Exhale, 1992
Adverb we expect everyone on this basketball court to play fair it fair takes your breath away when you find out what properties in London are going for
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Outside the fair, several collective shows have sprung up, most notably—and popularly—Alcova, a roving platform created in 2018 by two young designers looking for an alternative to the traditional design-fair model. Rachel Gallaher, Robb Report, 16 Mar. 2024 To be fair, on the subject of something like the Easter bunny, things get tricky, to be sure. Melissa Willets, Parents, 16 Mar. 2024 McGough, executive director of the Excellence in Policing and Public Safety Program at the University of South Carolina’s School of Law, said advocates aren’t simply telling departments to hire more women but to think more critically about the skills needed for fair and effective policing. USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2024 One firefighter was transported to a hospital in fair condition and an occupant of the home sustained minor smoke inhalation, LAFD said. Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024 Brewster said the committee, which is also in charge of drawing up the area maps, is actively seeking feedback from the community to ensure the areas are fair. Stephanie Lam, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024 Debate has raged for decades over whether the exemptions are fair. Todd Richmond, Quartz, 14 Mar. 2024 The price of the extended Virgin cruise is a fair bit more as well. Chris Morris, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2024 In addition to London, there’s the Bologna children’s book fair in Italy next month — a magnet for book scouts from Disney and other animation companies — and the historic Frankfurt market in Germany, which is considered more international, every fall. K.j. Yossman, Variety, 13 Mar. 2024
Noun
This is a list of dates and locations for outdoor fests and fairs in the area from late May through early September of this year. Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2024 There are family-friendly Mardi Gras parades, arts and crafts fairs, food and music festivals, and events to celebrate every holiday. Kayla Michelle Smith, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2024 Caitlin Clark mania has delivered something else: a swell of affection and pride for the land of corn, state fairs, and now women’s basketball. Kendra Nordin Beato, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Mar. 2024 An Art Lover’s Guide to Hong Kong March is the annual Hong Kong Arts Month, including Art Basel Hong Kong and other exhibitions and cultural fairs. Passport By Forbeslife, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Security at the fair was provided by volunteer officers from the Kenton County Police Reserve. Shaila Dewan Madeleine Hordinski, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2024 All participants will receive two tickets to the fair’s opening day on July 25. Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2024 Ng and Williams received their prizes during a special invitation-only ceremony at the fair. Katcy Stephan, Variety, 2 Mar. 2024 For the second year, the city of Santa Monica also will acquire a work from the fair with support from Frieze. Alison Brower, Los Angeles Times, 29 Feb. 2024
Adverb
This was Bush Cook, a three-day community fair held last October at Sejah Farm, a 15-acre livestock and agricultural center in the jungly heart of St. Croix. Carley Thornell, Travel + Leisure, 19 Jan. 2024 An article on Monday about the Salon Art + Design fair misidentified the material used in an artwork by Robert Mangold. New York Times, 15 Nov. 2023 Then there’s Design Miami, the fair affiliated with Art Basel whose galleries specialize in rare design pieces that are museum-quality and achingly covetable. Amy Verner, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2023 The fair presented an opportunity for these individuals to use their skills and participate in a project that celebrated free thinking. Gillian Bagwell, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Sep. 2023 That will provide more room for attendees — last year’s edition of the street fair drew about 85,000 people over two days, according to Scott Kessler of the Adams Avenues Business Association, under whose auspices the fair is presented. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Sep. 2023 But the nation’s largest state fair — a record 2.5 million people visited last year — produces much more than a good time: The fair funded $18.5 million in philanthropic giving in 2022, much of it allocated for the benefit of Fair Park and South Dallas. Terry Wagner, Dallas News, 17 Aug. 2023 Wisconsin State Fair The American state fair started in 1841 in Syracuse, New York, as a uniquely American showcase of newfound abundance, ingenuity and muscle. Dennis Romero, NBC News, 26 July 2023 With the full title EXPO Chicago: The International Exposition of Contemporary & Modern Art, the art fair will host some 170 international exhibitors, as well as present panel discussions and lectures on contemporary art and cultural topics. Doug George, Chicago Tribune, 12 Apr. 2023
Verb
Technicians hoisted the Vulcan rocket's payload fairing, containing a commercial lunar lander from Astrobotic, on top of the launch vehicle Wednesday morning at ULA's Vertical Integration Facility. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 22 Dec. 2023 Tenacity is hitching its ride to low-earth orbit packed inside a 5-meter payload fairing of United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket. Stephen J. Beard, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2024 The Odysseus lander is seen just prior to encapsulation inside a Falcon 9 nose fairing. William Harwood, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2024 SpaceX SpaceX carried out extensive modifications to cool and route the cryogenic propellants into the Falcon 9's nose fairing and then into the lander's tanks during the rocket's countdown. William Harwood, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2024 For its first flight, the Vulcan rocket is emblazoned with a red flame-like insignia, a US flag, and the logos of United Launch Alliance and Astrobotic, which owns the lunar lander nestled inside the rocket's payload fairing. Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 5 Jan. 2024 This milestone followed the early morning transfer of the payload fairing from a nearby facility where Astrobotic's lunar lander was fueled for its flight to the Moon. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 22 Dec. 2023 The concept entails the payload fairing being connected to the first stage, with two halves of the fairing swinging open to release an expendable second stage and a payload. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 23 Nov. 2023 The first stage and payload fairing would then return to Earth. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 23 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fair.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective, Adverb, Verb, and Noun (2)

Middle English fager, fair, from Old English fæger; akin to Old High German fagar beautiful

Noun (1)

Middle English feire, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin feria weekday, fair, from Late Latin, festal day, from Latin feriae (plural) holidays — more at feast

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1635, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of fair was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near fair

Cite this Entry

“Fair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fair. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

fair

1 of 3 adjective
ˈfa(ə)r How to pronounce fair (audio)
ˈfe(ə)r
1
: attractive in appearance : beautiful
our fair city
2
a
: clean entry 1 sense 2, pure
fair sparkling water
b
: clear entry 1 sense 3, legible
make a fair copy
3
: not stormy or cloudy
fair weather
4
a
: unbiased, just
wanted fair treatment
b
: observing the rules : allowed
fair play
c
: open to lawful pursuit or attack
fair game
5
a
: promising, likely
a fair chance of winning
b
: favorable to a ship's course
a fair wind
6
: not dark
fair skin
7
: neither good nor bad
did a fair job
fairness noun

fair

2 of 3 adverb
: in a fair manner
play fair

fair

3 of 3 noun
1
: a gathering of buyers and sellers for trade
2
: an exhibition (as of farm products) usually with accompanying entertainment, amusements, and competitions
3
: a sale of articles usually for a charitable purpose
Etymology

Adjective

Old English fæger "pleasing to the eye or mind"

Noun

Middle English feire "a gathering of buyers and sellers," from early French feire (same meaning), from Latin feria "weekday, fair," derived from earlier feriae (plural) "holidays"

Legal Definition

fair

adjective
1
: characterized by honesty and justice : free from self-interest, deception, injustice, or favoritism
a fair and impartial tribunal
2
: reasonable as a basis for exchange
a fair wage
a fair valuation
3
: consistent with merit or importance
fair and just compensation for the injuries
4
: conforming with established laws or standards : being in accordance with a person's rights under the law
fair judicial process
fairly adverb
fairness noun

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