having qualities which inspire hope
as long as the team keeps playing as hard as they can, they have a fair chance of winning—no matter what the scoreboard says
being what is called for by accepted standards of right and wrong
most thought his dismissal was fair since he had been given many chances to clean up his act
How does the adjective fair contrast with its synonyms?
Some common synonyms of fair are dispassionate, equitable, impartial, just, objective, and unbiased. While all these words mean "free from favor toward either or any side," fair implies a proper balance of conflicting interests.
a fair decision
When is dispassionate a more appropriate choice than fair?
The words dispassionate and fair can be used in similar contexts, but dispassionate suggests freedom from the influence of strong feeling and often implies cool or even cold judgment.
a dispassionate summation of the facts
How are the words equitable and just related as synonyms of fair?
Equitable implies a less rigorous standard than just and usually suggests equal treatment of all concerned.
the equitable distribution of the property
Where would impartial be a reasonable alternative to fair?
The meanings of impartial and fair largely overlap; however, impartial stresses an absence of favor or prejudice.
an impartial third party
When would just be a good substitute for fair?
The words just and fair are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, just implies an exact following of a standard of what is right and proper.
a just settlement of territorial claims
In what contexts can objective take the place of fair?
While in some cases nearly identical to fair, 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
When can unbiased be used instead of fair?
In some situations, the words unbiased and fair are roughly equivalent. However, unbiased implies even more strongly an absence of all prejudice.
your unbiased opinion
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fair
Adjective
There's still a fair distance between the current realities and a fully hands-off system.—New Atlas,
5 July 2026 For more than a decade, colleges have defended sweeping changes in admissions as efforts to make higher education fairer, more accessible, and more welcoming.—
Scott White,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2026
Noun
The Sorrell family often went to a local fair in Window Rock, Arizona.—
Veronica Fulton,
NBC news,
4 July 2026 The Ferris wheel got stuck; the power went out; the fair was nearly empty.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
3 July 2026
Adverb
So far, the other artists advertised as headlining concerts during the June 25-July 10 fair on the Mall have not spoken up about their involvement.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
28 May 2026 Elizabeth Dee, the founder of Independent — the 17-year-old art fair focused on artists making their New York debut — wanted to embrace the moment.—
Natalia Torija,
Curbed,
14 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for fair
During the PopStart segment of the show, Carson Daly, in a blue suit jacket and tie, quickly noticed that Guthrie was the only woman not wearing the sunny color.
—
Leigh Blickley,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 July 2026
The weather on Tuesday will be a repeat of Monday — sunny, warm and dry — but the pleasant stretch won’t last.
Months of legal jostling leading up to the hearing centered largely on media access.
—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 July 2026
Lawyers remained advocates for private clients, but Wilson increasingly described them as participants in preserving the legal order upon which republican government depended.
The room, its walls expensively craquelure'd to resemble fractured eggshells, its pale taffeta curtains billowing in the chill English breeze, is more Hollywood boudoir than office.
—
Hamish Bowles,
Vogue,
5 July 2026
But when taken together, our present divisions pale in comparison to the historical record.
After injuries derailed her promising elite career and the sport’s abusive culture robbed her of her joy, Ohashi reached superstar status while rediscovering her love of the sport with UCLA.
—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 July 2026
Although practical quantum computers remain years away, the approach marks a promising step toward that goal, according to representatives at ETH Zurich.
—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
9 July 2026
This camper features a triangle glass wall on the front for a clear view of your stunning surroundings and plenty of natural light, but still a decent amount of privacy.
—
Mia Huelsbeck,
PEOPLE,
8 July 2026
Families pool money to pay the provider a decent hourly wage.
Their French 75, which is made with cognac, lemon and muscadet, is a perfect example thanks to a beautiful balance of elegance and ingenuity.
—
Blair Crosby,
AJC.com,
5 July 2026
At the rear of the second floor is the primary suite, which has a large walk-in closet and another beautiful bathroom featuring a six-foot soaking tub with a custom glass surround.
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