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 to Kansas City, nobody really does, as Smith-Njigba entered the game having registered 100 or more receiving yards in five of his first six games this season.—Kansas City Star,
25 Oct. 2026 Start with the community With a pragmatic and fair approach, data center infrastructure can operate from a combination of baseload fuels, battery storage, and renewables, while prioritizing community needs and impacts.—
Neil Chatterjee,
Fortune,
23 Oct. 2026
Noun
Visitors attending the fair on Friday will be required to show government ID.—
Madeleine Schulz,
Vogue,
23 Oct. 2026 One of the world’s most prestigious contemporary art fairs, Art Basel includes exhibitions by 211 international galleries at Paris’ Grand Palais.—
Elitsa Gadeva,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Oct. 2026
Adverb
Climate was top of the agenda at Première Vision Paris as the global textiles fair took place in the still-sweltering 27-degree Centigrade (about 80 degrees Fahrenheit) heat following a summer marred by record heat across Europe.—
Ellen Groves,
Footwear News,
10 Sep. 2026 Its contour stick—a viral TikTok phenom—boasts seven shades, covering fair to deep skin tones.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fair
General Rob Bonta announced Tuesday that his office is seeking civil penalties and equitable relief against the operators of Chiquita Canyon Landfill in Castaic, accusing them of mismanaging its hazardous waste.
—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Oct. 2026
They were not thrilled that women were allowed on campus, so there was this resistance to enforcing Title IX to becoming more gender equitable.
Federal authorities on Monday charged more than two dozen legal permanent residents in California in a crackdown on people accused of illegally voting or registering to do so.
—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Oct. 2026
Florida law imposes limits on direct contributions to state candidates but generally allows political committees to accept unlimited contributions, subject to applicable reporting and other legal requirements.
In the years since, Turner has ping-ponged between shades, effortlessly changing it up from blonde to red to brunette and back again.
—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
27 Oct. 2026
Skinner, 32, rocked a multicolor plaid miniskirt with a scandalous slit, capping off the look with a long blond wig, pink hoop earrings, a blue plaid headband and vibrant makeup.
The activists who once demanded radical change begin worrying about their children’s safety, their schools, and whether the neighborhood is a decent place to grow up.
—
Maxwell Adler,
Vanity Fair,
28 Oct. 2026
Each tier receives different benefits, but even the lowester level (Green) still gets a decent amount of perks.
Beyond cooking, Relota Luczo takes a shot of Furtuna Skin’s LXR06 Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil on an empty stomach each morning to maintain her beautiful skin.
—
Jennifer Weil,
Footwear News,
25 Oct. 2026
Give the cake a final shake of fresh nutmeg for a beautiful presentation.
—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
25 Oct. 2026
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