1
a
: marked by impartiality and honesty : free from self-interest, prejudice, or favoritism
a very fair person to do business with
c
: open to legitimate pursuit, attack, or ridicule
fair game
2
a
: not very good or very bad : of average or acceptable quality
Her work was only fair.
a patient upgraded from serious to fair condition
b
: sufficient but not ample : adequate
a fair understanding of the work
a fair chance of winning
c
: moderately numerous, large, or significant
takes a fair amount of time
a fair number of participants
3
: not stormy or foul : fine
fair weather
4
: having very little color, coloring, or pigmentation : very light
fair hair
fair skin
a person of fair complexion
5
: pleasing to the eye or mind especially because of fresh, charming, or flawless quality
The innkeeper had two fair daughters.
6
: superficially pleasing : specious
she trusted his fair promises
8
: ample
a fair estate
10
: being such to the utmost : utter
a fair treat to watch him—
New Republic
New Republic11
archaic
: free of obstacles
1
: a gathering of buyers and sellers at a particular place and time for trade
2
a
: a competitive exhibition usually with accompanying entertainment and amusements
an agricultural fair
b
: an exhibition designed to acquaint prospective buyers or the general public with a product
a book fair
c
: an exposition that promotes the availability of services or opportunities
health fairs
job fairs
3
: a sale of assorted articles usually for a charitable purpose
1
: in a manner that is honest or impartial or that conforms to rules : in a fair manner
play fair
2
chiefly British
: fairly sense 3
fair makes you want to cry
faired; fairing; fairs
of the weather
: clear
: to join so that the external surfaces blend smoothly
1
: something that is fair or fortunate (see fair entry 1)
3
Did you know?
Fair in Love and War
For many people, the word fair brings to mind the aphorism “all is fair in love and war.” We have been using some variation of this saying for quite some time, although, as with many such expressions, it is difficult to pinpoint exactly when it began. As far back as 1578 John Lyly wrote “anye impietie may lawfully be committed in loue, which is lawlesse.” We do not see evidence of war juxtaposed with love until 1687, when Aphra Behn wrote “All Advantages are lawful in Love and War” in her play The Emperor of the Moon. By 1717 this had morphed into “All advantages are fair in love and war” in William Taverner’s play The Artful Husband. Finally, by 1789 we find the line used exactly as it is today in the novel The Relapse: “Tho’ this was a confounded lie, my friend, ‘all is fair in love and war’.”
Synonyms
Examples of fair in a Sentence
Adjective
"You boys not looking for any trouble, are you?" The question was fair. Millat's Crew looked like trouble.
—Zadie Smith, White Teeth, (2000) 2001
"I have a good relationship with both Eddie and David. I think they've been fair to me."
—Joni Mitchell, quoted in Rolling Stone, 30 May 1991
Everybody out, the Iraqis said, except CNN. Even CNN isn't sure why they made that decision. Perhaps it is because CNN alone is seen globally. What the Iraqis told us is that they had found our coverage since August to have been "fair."
—Peter Arnett, Washington Post, 25-31 Mar. 1991
That's a fair question, and it deserves an honest reply.
He is known as a very fair man.
I try to be fair to my children.
He claims that the competition wasn't fair.
It's not fair that she gets to leave early and I don't.
a fair and impartial jury
a bargain that is fair to everyone
“What a bad movie!” “Be fair! Parts of it are actually pretty funny.”
I can't say I liked the movie, but, to be fair, parts of it are pretty funny.
She did poorly on the test, but, to be fair, so did a lot of other people.
Noun (1)
At night the sparkling lights, hurdy-gurdy music of the merry-go-round, excited children, and screams of the riders on the roller coaster that races overhead recall the gaiety of a carnival midway at a county fair.
—Witold Rybczynski, Atlantic, May 1993
Back at the street fair, in the smoky heat among vendors of souvenirs and street food, a flock of kids dances around a boom box playing Lionel Richie.
—Barbara Kingsolver, New York Times Magazine, 12 Sept. 1993
"Do you like to go out? You know, party?" "Who doesn't?" "Well, the Ebony Fashion Fair is in three weeks. You want to go?"
—Terry McMillan, Waiting to Exhale, 1992
a dazzling array of sleek cabin cruisers at the annual boat fair
Adverb
we expect everyone on this basketball court to play fair
it fair takes your breath away when you find out what properties in London are going for
Zadie Smith, White Teeth, (2000) 2001
"I have a good relationship with both Eddie and David. I think they've been fair to me."
—Joni Mitchell, quoted in Rolling Stone, 30 May 1991
Everybody out, the Iraqis said, except CNN. Even CNN isn't sure why they made that decision. Perhaps it is because CNN alone is seen globally. What the Iraqis told us is that they had found our coverage since August to have been "fair."
—Peter Arnett, Washington Post, 25-31 Mar. 1991
That's a fair question, and it deserves an honest reply.
He is known as a very fair man.
I try to be fair to my children.
He claims that the competition wasn't fair.
It's not fair that she gets to leave early and I don't.
a fair and impartial jury
a bargain that is fair to everyone
“What a bad movie!” “Be fair! Parts of it are actually pretty funny.”
I can't say I liked the movie, but, to be fair, parts of it are pretty funny.
She did poorly on the test, but, to be fair, so did a lot of other people.
Noun (1)
At night the sparkling lights, hurdy-gurdy music of the merry-go-round, excited children, and screams of the riders on the roller coaster that races overhead recall the gaiety of a carnival midway at a county fair.
—Witold Rybczynski, Atlantic, May 1993
Back at the street fair, in the smoky heat among vendors of souvenirs and street food, a flock of kids dances around a boom box playing Lionel Richie.
—Barbara Kingsolver, New York Times Magazine, 12 Sept. 1993
"Do you like to go out? You know, party?" "Who doesn't?" "Well, the Ebony Fashion Fair is in three weeks. You want to go?"
—Terry McMillan, Waiting to Exhale, 1992
a dazzling array of sleek cabin cruisers at the annual boat fair
Adverb
we expect everyone on this basketball court to play fair
it fair takes your breath away when you find out what properties in London are going for
Recent Examples on the Web
Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 14 Dec. 2024
Newsweek reached out to the governors' offices in the nine states where the situation remained unclear as of Friday morning.
fairness meter
Newsweek is committed to journalism that's factual and fair.
—Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
Sofia Celeste, WWD, 12 Dec. 2024
Design Miami—one of the world’s leading design fairs, that takes place in tandem with Art Basel—is about to enter its 20th year.
—Nick Remsen, Vogue, 6 Dec. 2024
Michele Luhn, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2024
Art Miami tickets get you into CONTEXT Art Miami, its sister fair focused on emerging and mid-career artists.
—Martin Vassolo, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024
New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2024
That meant the Blue Jays, stocked with several talented players, were among the most active teams and based on industry perception, faired well in their pursuit of strengthening their system’s depth.
—Kaitlyn McGrath, The Athletic, 30 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for fair 
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Adjective
The best chance to find Van Winkle products at a fair price is through lotteries offered by many retailers, where consumers can purchase bottles from the collection at MSRP, according to the news release.
—Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 14 Dec. 2024
Newsweek reached out to the governors' offices in the nine states where the situation remained unclear as of Friday morning.
fairness meter
Newsweek is committed to journalism that's factual and fair.
—Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
Compared to contemporary fairs like Design Miami, Salon features works from various time periods.
—Sofia Celeste, WWD, 12 Dec. 2024
Design Miami—one of the world’s leading design fairs, that takes place in tandem with Art Basel—is about to enter its 20th year.
—Nick Remsen, Vogue, 6 Dec. 2024
Adverb
Jobs time Hiring signage displayed at a job and resource fair hosted by the Mountain Area Workforce Development Board in partnership with NCWorks in Hendersonville, North Carolina, US, on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024.
—Michele Luhn, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2024
Art Miami tickets get you into CONTEXT Art Miami, its sister fair focused on emerging and mid-career artists.
—Martin Vassolo, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024
Verb
The Dax is equipped with a handsome retro dustbin-style fairing, made of lightweight composite fiber.
—New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2024
That meant the Blue Jays, stocked with several talented players, were among the most active teams and based on industry perception, faired well in their pursuit of strengthening their system’s depth.
—Kaitlyn McGrath, The Athletic, 30 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for fair
Articles Related to fair
Dictionary Entries Near fair
Cite this Entry
“Fair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fair. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fair
1 of 3 adjective
ˈfa(ə)r 
ˈfe(ə)r
1
: attractive in appearance : beautiful
our fair city
2
a
: clean entry 1 sense 2, pure
fair sparkling water
b
: clear entry 1 sense 3, legible
make a fair copy
3
: not stormy or cloudy
fair weather
4
6
: not dark
fair skin
7
: neither good nor bad
did a fair job
fairness
noun
fair
2 of 3 adverb
: in a fair manner
play fair
fair
3 of 3 noun1
: a gathering of buyers and sellers for trade
2
: an exhibition (as of farm products) usually with accompanying entertainment, amusements, and competitions
3
: a sale of articles usually for a charitable purpose
Etymology
Adjective
Old English fæger "pleasing to the eye or mind"
Noun
Middle English feire "a gathering of buyers and sellers," from early French feire (same meaning), from Latin feria "weekday, fair," derived from earlier feriae (plural) "holidays"
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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