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
Longwell believes that neither party is currently giving voters the choice of being simultaneously tough and fair, secure and humane, protective and decent.—
Isaac Arnsdorf,
New Yorker,
18 Sep. 2026 Is everyone entitled to a fair process before being forced out of their home?—
Shawnita Sealy-Jefferson,
The Conversation,
18 Sep. 2026
Noun
Oh There was everything to love about Collina Strada’s Storm King show and picnic, from the perfect weather to the romantic clothes that referenced rococo, riot grrrl, and Renaissance fairs.—Vogue,
17 Sep. 2026 Sequi said exhibitors need strategize long before the actual fair.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
17 Sep. 2026
Adverb
Seniors, stacks and stories Seniors, 55 and older, can enjoy a free pancake breakfast and a community resource fair sponsored by the Milwaukee North Sunrise Rotary Club.—
Everett Eaton,
jsonline.com,
14 Aug. 2026 Special events Each year, the state fair organizes a slate of special events, and this year is no exception.—Sacbee.com,
16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for fair
On a sunny August afternoon, the group’s founder, Brent Linas, stood in front of the San Juan Creek, 5 miles from Ladera Ranch, pointing out the lack of plants near the channel.
—
Julia Vargas Jones,
CNN Money,
20 Sep. 2026
Monday’s conditions are likely to be partly sunny with a high near 74.
This week, the Gates Foundation announced a $1 billion commitment to build and deliver equitable AI tools to schools, frontline health care workers, farmers, and more.
—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
19 Sep. 2026
Regardless of the gender of its central killer, maybe the most equitable thing Monster could do is stop talking.
Jury nullification is not a legal right so much as a practical power.
—
Monu Bedi,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Sep. 2026
The move adds Missouri to a contentious legal battle between states and the federal government over who has authority to regulate prediction markets, which allow users to bet on the outcome of events ranging from sports, elections, and the weather.
—
Rena Rowe,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Sep. 2026
Take Ludwig, 2018, the artist’s first CGI video, which for eight minutes stays fixed on a single CGI blond boy who rolls around in the dark hold of a ship amid a storm.
—
Matthew McLean,
Artforum,
22 Sep. 2026
Waterhouse often works with hairstylist Jacob Rozenberg, who has crafted her blonde hair into a reverent, glamorous bedhead.
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