fairness

noun

fair·​ness ˈfer-nəs 

: the quality or state of being fair

especially : fair or impartial treatment : lack of favoritism toward one side or another

This is the real Ponzi scheme that does injury to the American promise of fairness …

—Jesse Jackson

The rules reflect the principles of procedural due process and fundamental fairness prescribed by the Constitution …

—James O. Freedman

… partisan gerrymandering has got so out of hand that it was up to the courts to restore a measure of fairness.

—Jeffrey Toobin

We are living in the harsh world invented by a handful of corporate raiders whose values are completely foreign to the fairness and moderation that had so long served as the proper foundation of American success and the American dream.

—Doris Haddock

He did poorly, but in (all) fairness [=to be fair to him], he was tired.

Synonyms of fairness

• beauty
• beautifulness
• attractiveness
• aesthetics
• elegance

Examples of fairness in a Sentence

a city of incomparable fairness, Venice has enchanted travelers for centuries

fairness was certainly uppermost in the elderly woman's mind as she made arrangements for dividing the family heirlooms among her many grandchildren

Recent Examples on the Web

Outside the venue, the earlier rally led by former NCAA athlete Sophia Lorey focused on fairness and competitive balance in girls’ sports. —Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2026

In fairness, so did everyone else, and with the signing window coming to a close, the White Sox were able to nab Murakami for a (now bargain) two-year, $34 million deal. —Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 9 May 2026

That means upgrading infrastructure in western neighborhoods, supporting local businesses, improving parks and public spaces, and planning maintenance on a more systematic citywide basis to improve fairness, predictability and long-term upkeep. —Yair Gersten, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026

In their bilateral meeting at the presidential office Friday, Peña said his country solemnly called on the international community to recognize that the people of Taiwan should have the right to make their own decisions based on the principles of democracy and fairness. —ABC News, 8 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing fairness

• fairness doctrine

Rhymes for fairness

• bareness
• squareness
• awareness
• unfairness
• unawareness