fairer; fairest
1
: agreeing with what is thought to be right or acceptable
We received fair treatment.
fair elections
a fair fight
a fair bargain/deal/trade
I'm just trying to get a fair price for the house. [=I'm not trying to get more money for the house than most people think is right]
That's a fair question, and it deserves an honest reply.
The workers claim that they are not being paid fair wages. [=they are being paid less than they should be paid]
It's only fair [=it is the right thing] to tell him the truth.
I washed the dishes yesterday, so it's only fair (that) you to do them today.
He gets his fair share of attention too. [=he gets a reasonable amount of attention]
She's had more than her fair share of trouble. [=she has had a lot of trouble]
2
: treating people in a way that does not favor some over others
He is known as a very fair man.
I try to be fair to/with my children.
He claims that the competition wasn't fair.
It's not fair that she gets to leave early and I don't.
Sometimes life isn't fair.
a fair and impartial jury
a bargain/deal/trade that is fair to/for everyone
All she wants is a fair chance. [=the same chance everyone else gets]
3
: not too harsh or critical
"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.
4
a
: not very good or very bad : of average or acceptable quality
Her work has been fair to good.
The quality of her work has been only fair.
I think our waiter did a fair job.
The patient has been upgraded from serious to fair condition.
The food was fair to middling. [=just average; not especially good]
b
approving
: reasonably good : good although usually not excellent
The team has a fair [=pretty good] chance of winning the championship this year.
He does a pretty fair [=good] imitation of the President.
He was able to give us a fair idea of the problems involved.
It's a fair bet that the weather will improve soon.
"I'm guessing that he's about 50 years old." "That's a fair guess, but he's actually almost 60."
c
always used before a noun
: reasonably large
—used to describe an amount or size that is not small although it is also not extremely large
There were a fair number of new participants at the convention.
Researchers now know a fair amount about the earliest humans.
He lives a fair distance from here.
5
: not stormy or cloudy
fair skies
fair weather
6
of a person's hair, skin, etc.
: having a light color
fair hair/skin
a person of fair complexion
a fair-skinned person
7
literary + old-fashioned
: attractive or pleasing to look at
We're happy to welcome you to our fair [=lovely] city.
a fair maid/maiden
Who's the fairest of them all?
8
baseball
: in the area between the foul lines
The ball was caught in fair territory.
Note: A fair ball is a batted ball that lands in the area between the foul lines.
plural fairs
1
: a large public event at which there are various kinds of competitions, games, rides, and entertainment
especially, US
: such an event at which farm products and farm animals are shown and judged
She showed her horse at the annual county/state fair.
2
: an event at which many people gather to buy things or to get information about a product or activity
a book fair
a craft fair
a job fair [=an event where employers offer information about their companies to people who are looking for jobs]
3
: an event at which different things (such as crafts or food) are sold usually for charity
The church is having a fair to raise money for the new school.
Cite this Entry
“Fair.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/fair. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
Copy Citation
