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
To be fair, according to Freddie this is actually explicable, based on an apple wine recipe Booker used to make using apples, bourbon barrels, and cinnamon.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
27 Sep. 2026 The judge will have to weigh complex arguments from both sides about what penalties are fair.—
Mikella Schuettler,
Fortune,
26 Sep. 2026
Noun
In Mexico, Lotería was initially played by the upper classes but gradually gained mass popularity via traveling fairs (called ferias).—
Sanat Pai Raikar,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Oct. 2026 The new venue allowed the fair to expand considerably, to 57 exhibitors, up from 31 at its previous downtown edition.—
Brian Boucher,
ARTnews.com,
2 Oct. 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
Sánchez, while a popular progressive leader internationally, has been surrounded by a series of legal cases against his Socialist party and even his family, which all deny any wrongdoing.
—
JOSEPH WILSON,
Arkansas Online,
3 Oct. 2026
There are obvious areas of overlap in corporate functions like IT, marketing, procurement and legal.
Rocha developed Parker’s dress from an existing show piece, reworking its hand-laced, unraveling ribbons in a pale ballet pink intended as a nod to pointe shoes.
—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
2 Oct. 2026
Wide, pale pink, satin ribbons were threaded loosely throughout the dress, culminating in bows at the shoulders.
If explored further, this study could open a promising new pathway to global, large-scale clean energy storage by showing that naturally occurring hydrogen traps can double as high-capacity power banks.
Of interest to the teenage set is new series Coven Academy, which is set at a New Orleans school that only enrolls the most promising witches and warlocks.
This, the perfectly decent people of Kettleborough reasoned, was a natural and godly rebuke for Susan and Cuthbert’s sin.
—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Sep. 2026
With fast charging capability, 60 hours of playback time, and a foldable design, the Q20i also offers high resolution sound, and very decent ANC performance.
With that, Dorinda gathers everyone (except for Chanel Ayan, who is too beautiful for the cold) out into the freezing night for the fireworks that end this celebration.
—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
5 Oct. 2026
Indeed, this celestial crustacean has no star brighter than 4th magnitude and its only claims to fame are its membership in the zodiac and beautiful M44.
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