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
Longwell believes that neither party is currently giving voters the choice of being simultaneously tough and fair, secure and humane, protective and decent.—
Isaac Arnsdorf,
New Yorker,
18 Sep. 2026 Is everyone entitled to a fair process before being forced out of their home?—
Shawnita Sealy-Jefferson,
The Conversation,
18 Sep. 2026
Noun
The closet, originally called Okra Suits, provided business attire to students for career fairs, presentations, job interviews and special events.—ABC News,
24 Sep. 2026 Rather than piling another major event onto an already claustrophobic September calendar, the fair actually felt like the beginning of something.—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
24 Sep. 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
Next are the sunny days and cool nights of high-altitude summers, which encourage production of sugars and other compounds that make the fruits teasingly tangy and blissfully sweet.
—
Sarah Kaplan,
Washington Post,
26 Sep. 2026
Zones 3-9 Coreopsis Perennial coreopsis specieslook delicate but are very tough plants for the sunny garden.
—
Rita Pelczar,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 Sep. 2026
This week, the Gates Foundation announced a $1 billion commitment to build and deliver equitable AI tools to schools, frontline health care workers, farmers, and more.
—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
19 Sep. 2026
Regardless of the gender of its central killer, maybe the most equitable thing Monster could do is stop talking.
In California, a parent or legal guardian can surrender a baby within 72 hours of birth — no questions asked — to ensure the child’s well-being, the department said.
—
Iris Kwok,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Sep. 2026
Catz, chief legal officer Stuart Levey, and operations chief Douglas Kehring all opted for RSUs while global field operations president Mark Hura chose options.
Windows are wide, sightlines are clear, and the palette is of pale stone, natural linens, and weathered cedar.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Sep. 2026
The actress wore a dress from the Lebanese designer’s resort 2027 collection, a pale lilac strapless dress with sheer chiffon fabric encrusted with a bevy of shimmering bugle beads.
Take Ludwig, 2018, the artist’s first CGI video, which for eight minutes stays fixed on a single CGI blond boy who rolls around in the dark hold of a ship amid a storm.
—
Matthew McLean,
Artforum,
22 Sep. 2026
Waterhouse often works with hairstylist Jacob Rozenberg, who has crafted her blonde hair into a reverent, glamorous bedhead.
Belugas are beautiful, mystical creatures; anyone proximate to them would feel their loss acutely.
—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
28 Sep. 2026
Set the scene Beyond the majestic main building, which sits on one of the endless curves of the Amalfi road, there are two new villas in addition to an older one, the beautiful Romeo e Giulietta.
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