26984 words

fair

37 definitions • 58 examples
1
treating someone in a way that is right or reasonable, or treating a group of people equally and not allowing personal opinions to influence your judgment:

Examples:

a fair trial
it's not fair Why should I have to do all the cleaning? It's not fair!
fair on It's not fair on Joe (= it is not right) to make him do all the work!
fair that It's not fair that she's allowed to go and I'm not!
[ + to infinitive ] It's not fair to blame me for everything!
scrupulously fair She's scrupulously fair with all her employees (= she treats them all equally).
fair with He was always very fair with the men who worked for him.
fair comment mainly UK She claims her article was a fair comment on (= a reasonable thing to say about) a matter of public interest.
fair deal He offered to do all the cleaning if I did all the cooking, which seemed like a fair (= reasonable) deal.
2
If something is fair, it is reasonable and is what you expect or deserve:

Examples:

fair price I thought it was a fair price that she was offering.
fair share of I'm willing to do my fair (= equal) share of the work.
fair wage All the workers want is a fair wage for the work that they do.
3
If a game or competition is fair, it is done according to the rules:

Examples:

It was a fair fight.
4
it is the right way to treat someone and what they deserve:

Examples:

I think it's only fair to tell you that we have had over 300 applications for this job.
5
it is true to say:

Examples:

I think it's fair to say (that) you've done less of the work than I have.
6
considering everything that has an effect on a situation, so that a fair judgment can be made:

Examples:

He's done the job badly but, to be fair, I gave him very little time to do it.
7
something you say to show that you understand why someone has done or said something:

Examples:

"I'm just annoyed with him because he's behaved so badly." "Fair enough."
8
something that you say when you want someone to behave reasonably or treat you the same as other people:

Examples:

Come on, it's my turn. Fair's fair!
9
an opportunity to explain something or give your opinions, without other people trying to influence the situation:

Examples:

get a fair hearing He didn't think that he got a fair hearing in court.
10
in an honest way and without any doubt:

Examples:

We won the match fair and square.
11
If you hit someone fair and square on a particular part of their body, you hit that person hard, exactly on that part:

Examples:

He hit me fair and square on the nose.
12
(of skin) pale, or (of hair) pale yellow or gold:

Examples:

She's got fair hair and blue eyes.
a fair complexion
My sister has dark hair but my brother's fair (= he has fair hair).
fair-haired He's fair-haired.
fair-skinned All my family are fair-skinned.
13

Examples:

fair amount We've had a fair amount of rain this week.
fair number We've had a fair number of applicants.
fair-sized It's a fair-sized garden.
fair way We've come a long way, but there's still a fair way (= quite a long distance) to go.
14
neither very good nor very bad:

Examples:

Films are rated on a scale of poor, fair, good and excellent.
fair at I was fair at science but it was never my thing.
15
(of an idea, guess, or chance) good, but not excellent:

Examples:

fair idea I think I've got a fair idea of (= I understand reasonably well) what you want.
fair chance She's got a fair chance of winning (= there is a reasonable chance that she will win).
16
(of weather) pleasant and dry:

Examples:

Fair weather was forecast for the following day.
17
(of a woman) beautiful:

Examples:

a fair maiden
18
a large public event where goods are bought and sold, usually from tables that have been specially arranged for the event, and where there is often entertainment:

Examples:

craft fair I bought a wooden salad bowl at the local craft fair.
19
an outside event where you can ride on large machines for pleasure and play games to win prizes
20
a large show at which people who work in a particular industry meet, and sell and advertise their products:

Examples:

a book/antiques/toy fair
a trade fair
21
a public event in the countryside where farm animals and farm products are sold:

Examples:

US a county/state fair
22
a public event, often held outside, where you can take part in competitions and buy small things and food, often organized to collect money for a particular purpose:

Examples:

the school fair
23
treating someone in a way that is right or reasonable, or treating people equally and not allowing personal opinions to influence your judgment:

Examples:

All he asks is a fair chance to prove his innocence.
I’m willing to do my fair share of the work (= equal part).
24
If a game or competition is fair, it is done according to the rules:

Examples:

It was a fair fight.
25
In some sports, esp. baseball, fair means within the playing field:

Examples:

The umpire ruled it a fair ball.
26
neither very good nor very bad:

Examples:

He’s good in physics but only fair in math.
27
large or great in comparison:

Examples:

We still had a fair amount of foreign money when we returned.
28

Examples:

The architect’s drawing will give you a pretty fair idea of what the completed house will look like.
29
(of weather) pleasant and dry
30
(of skin) pale, or (of hair) light in color:

Examples:

If you have fair skin, you’ll get a sunburn easily.
31
a public event, usually held outside, where goods and sometimes farm animals are shown and sold and where there is often food and entertainment
32
A county/state fair is one where farm animals and products from that region are shown to compete for prizes and there is food and entertainment.
33
A street fair is one where a city street is closed to cars so that goods and food can be sold to people walking through it.
34
A fair is also a show at which people who work in a particular industry meet to sell and advertise their products:

Examples:

a book/antiques/toy fair
35
treating people equally and in a way that is right and reasonable:

Examples:

It's the government's job to make sure that the tax system is fair and equitable.
be fair on sb The new regulations are not fair on working parents.
Everyone has the right to a fair trial.
Corporations must pay their fair share of the cost of the construction work.
36
a fair price, wage, rent, etc. is not too high or too low:

Examples:

All we're asking for is a fair wage.
Local growers must be given a fair price for their produce.
37

Examples:

The Battersea Contemporary Art Fair is one of the largest in the UK.

Navigation