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
The fair’s 24th edition will bring together exhibitors from 63 cities in 27 countries, with 45 of them participating for the first time.—
Maximilíano Durón,
ARTnews.com,
3 Aug. 2026 But, to be fair to men, the old standards of success have become harder to achieve.—
Faith Hill,
The Atlantic,
3 Aug. 2026
Noun
But while trends come and go, some foods at the fair have been feeding crowds for generations.—
Anne Ewbank,
Sacbee.com,
30 July 2026 The fair takes place the same week as the Aspen Art Museum’s popular ArtCrush gala and AIR, the museum’s new art and culture festival (look out for Andy Battaglia’s report for Art in America).—
Brian Boucher,
ARTnews.com,
30 July 2026
Adverb
Broward voters have the right to elect candidates who are fighting fair on as equal a playing field as possible.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
13 June 2026 The committee for the career fair chose Beckwith as a speaker who would discuss the state of the economy in Indiana, McCall said.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for fair
His campaign priorities included prioritizing equitable tax reform, expanding public transportation programs and affordable housing incentives, and strengthening Jackson County’s moratorium on private detention centers.
—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
5 Aug. 2026
The review, initiated by Supervisor Holly Mitchell, aims to ensure equitable funding.
Her long white hair, normally collected in a bun, trailed down past her shoulders in smooth, pale waves.
—
Rachel Yoder,
New Yorker,
2 Aug. 2026
This is a place to order something sparkly—maybe the Broadway 75, a pale pink French 75 riff—to sip at the circular bar, or ensconced in the velvet banquette seats.
Explainability is the bridge between a promising pilot and real production.
—
Rick Morris,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2026
One promising way forward is for cities and counties to invest in community hubs, such as public libraries, or create new gathering spaces across communities.
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