fair

/feər/
adjectiveBeginner
general

treating people equally without favoritism or discrimination

She believes in fair treatment for all employees.

She believes everyone should be treated equally without bias.

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Often used in legal, social, and workplace contexts.

general

reasonable or acceptable in quality or quantity

The price seems fair for the service provided.

The price is reasonable given what was offered.

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Common in commerce and everyday transactions.

descriptive

having a light complexion or pale skin

She has fair skin that burns easily in the sun.

Her pale skin is sensitive to sunlight.

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Primarily used to describe physical appearance.

Collocations

fair playsportsmanship and honesty in competitionfair sharean equal or reasonable portionfair weatherpleasant but possibly unreliable conditions

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

fair and squarephrase
completely honest and legitimate
fair gamephrase
something or someone that can be legitimately targeted or criticized

💡Pro Tip

Context Matters

The meaning of 'fair' can vary based on context—whether it's about justice, appearance, or reasonableness.

Gold Rule

Avoid Overuse

While 'fair' is versatile, using it too often can make your writing repetitive. Consider synonyms like 'just' or 'impartial' for variety.

📖Word Origin

From Middle English 'faire,' meaning 'beautiful' or 'pleasant,' derived from Old French 'fer,' from Latin 'farius,' meaning 'fair, beautiful.' The sense of 'just' developed in the 14th century.

📝Usage Notes

Can be used as an adjective to describe people, situations, or objects. Often associated with justice, equality, and reasonableness.

Word Breakdown

fair
just, reasonable, or light in color
root
English Dictionary