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

• beauty
• beautifulness
• attractiveness
• aesthetics

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

Others say the current way of rating schools, while imperfect, brings some fairness to an accountability system that might otherwise only reward schools whose students come from privileged backgrounds. —Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 12 July 2025

Conversations about financial transparency, fairness and legacy have grown more complex, especially in an era when headlines can shape reputations and regulatory scrutiny continues to evolve. —Blake Harris, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025

Some students argue that this diminishes the value of their education and raises transparency and fairness issues. —Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 8 July 2025

Clymer said she’s always advocated for fairness in sports, but the NCAA had rules in place for nearly a decade that balanced fairness, nuance and trans athletes’ ability to compete. —Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 4 July 2025

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