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
Key Background Northern lights activity has remained fair throughout the year, benefiting from the peak of the sun’s 11-year solar cycle reached in 2024.—
Antonio Pequeño Iv,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2026 If someone borrows equipment or asks for help, set clear terms that feel fair.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
11 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
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 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 See All Example Sentences for fair
The city is prioritizing equitable access to chargers, specifically for residents of apartments and multifamily housing, disadvantaged and underserved communities, small businesses and publicly accessible locations, according to the city’s website.
—
Camryn Dadey,
Sacbee.com,
15 July 2026
Christensen hopes artists engaging with the river spurs conversation for more equitable green investments that benefit communities and the environment.
The family had been living on Shikoku island in Japan – a country where, until a law change this April, only one parent could be considered a child’s legal guardian after divorce.
—
Laura Sharman,
CNN Money,
12 July 2026
Latham & Watkins was legal advisor to the Allen estate in the transaction.
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.
One promising sign is how billionaire investor Warren Buffett is handling his philanthropy.
—
Thomas Adam,
The Conversation,
16 July 2026
Julian Evans-Pritchard, head of China economics at Capital Economics, wrote Wednesday that while growth has long been expected to slow, the recent economic data held some promising signs of stabilizing consumer activity.
The Crosstrek also has decent off-road capability as a base model and can easily be enhanced with tires or purchased from the factory as a mean off-roading machine (Crosstrek Wilderness).
—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
14 July 2026
Insiders added that the power striker, who also is a decent rapper himself, was on his best behavior.
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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