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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fair
Adjective
The fair, which is set to run from November 13–16 this year, represents a new chapter for the ADAA, a nonprofit membership organization which comprises approximately 200 fine art galleries in almost forty US cities.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
27 July 2026 The fair returns to its longtime home of the Park Avenue Armory on the Upper East Side, though will a few key changes.—
Maximilíano Durón,
ARTnews.com,
27 July 2026
Noun
After years of slow expansion through busy beach locations and fairs, Hot Dog on a Stick expanded to malls, which proved a perfect match for its fast, inexpensive and easy-to-handle menu.—Los Angeles Times,
22 July 2026 By far the best free entertainment was the concert by Babyface, who performed at the Sky River Casino Stage as part of the fair’s Toyota Concert Series.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
july 22,
Sacbee.com,
22 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
Minka Kelly is ravishing in red while enjoying a sunny day in New York on July 20.
—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
21 July 2026
From the Main Stage to sunny days on Sesame Street, RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 11 winner Crystal Methyd‘s colorful rainbow of a reign is already off to an eclectic roster of places.
Those that combine strong technology, clinical rigor, and adaptability are best equipped to deliver equitable access in a maturing market.
—
Tanya Akim,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2026
That was the same year PrEP4All launched a National HIV Prevention Day to raise awareness of the fight for equitable access to comprehensive HIV prevention.
After the triumph of Spain’s golden generation, Perez and Madrid spent significant funds on the most promising prospects in Spanish football.
—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
24 July 2026
The film was previously presented with the Activator Market Potential Award at the 2025 Golden Horse Film Project Promotion (FPP) in Taipei, where it was selected among the year’s most promising projects from emerging Asian filmmakers.
But at a time when the physical element of football is at risk of overpowering the technical side, a decent fix is playing matches in conditions where relentless sprinting simply isn’t possible.
—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
22 July 2026
But Nickel had a solid spring, flashing a strong arm, decent accuracy and an ability to throw deftly on the run.
Characters like his kindly uncle, Ser Gwayne (Freddie Fox), and his beautiful dragon, Tessarion, see the real Daeron.
—
Sean T. Collins,
Vulture,
27 July 2026
Appellation Lodi Julie Scopazzi, former marketing manager at Testarossa in Los Gatos, had been telling me about the beautiful transformation of Appellation Lodi, with its gorgeous territorial architecture and colorful gardens.
Copy Citation
