fair

adjective

UK /feə(r)/

Word Forms

adjective	fair
comparative	fairer
superlative	fairest

1
if a situation is fair, everyone is treated equally and in a reasonable way
Life is not always fair.
Everyone has a right to a fair trial.
free and fair elections
it is not fair to someone:
It wouldn’t be fair to the others if she is paid more.
Synonyms and related words
Fair and reasonable
fair
reasonable
natural
1. 1a
  a fair person treats everyone equally and in a reasonable way
  Teachers have to be scrupulously fair in marking examination papers.
  Synonyms and related words
  Fair and reasonable
  fair
  reasonable
  natural
Collocates
Adverbs frequently used with fair
▪ absolutely, completely, entirely, perfectly, scrupulously, very
2
reasonable and morally right
a fair wage/deal/price:
We aim to provide healthy food at fair prices.
it is (not) fair to do something:
It is not fair to attack his personal life in this way.
Synonyms and related words
Morally good or correct
moral
correct
right
Synonyms and related words
Fair and reasonable
fair
reasonable
natural
3
only before nounused for emphasizing that an amount, size, number etc is large
We walked 3 miles to school, which is a fair distance.
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe large amounts and quantities
substantial
considerable
extensive
4
a fair guess or idea is reasonable and likely to be correct
have a fair idea of something:
I had a fair idea of what he was going to say next.
Synonyms and related words
Describing and introducing guesses
about
around
at a guess
5
fair hair is blonde (=light yellow) or very light brown in colour
Synonyms and related words
Hair colour
a platinum blonde
auburn
blonde
1. 5a
  someone who is fair has light hair and pale skin
  Synonyms and related words
  Hair colour
  a platinum blonde
  auburn
  blonde
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe skin colour
  a high colour
  albino
  (as) white as a sheet
6
if the weather is fair, it is pleasant and not raining
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe calm and pleasant weather
calm
calm
clear
7
not bad but not very good
His knowledge of Russian is very good though his Japanese is only fair.
Synonyms and related words
Not very good
poor
average
limited
8
literarybeautiful
Synonyms and related words
Being beautiful
beautiful
glorious
stunning

phrases

all’s fair in love and war

be fair

by fair means or foul

fair and square

fair comment

fair do’s

fair enough

fair’s fair

a fair shake

(I) can’t say fairer than that

it’s a fair bet (that)

it’s fair to say (that)

it is only fair

(more than) your fair share of something

play fair

seem/look/be set fair

to be fair

with your own fair hands

fair

adjective

US /fer/

Word Forms

adjective	fair
comparative	fairer
superlative	fairest

1
if a situation is fair, everyone is treated equally and in a reasonable way
Life is not always fair.
Everyone has a right to a fair trial.
free and fair elections
it is not fair to someone:
It wouldn’t be fair to the others if she is paid more.
Synonyms and related words
Fair and reasonable
fair
reasonable
natural
1. 1a
  a fair person treats everyone equally and in a reasonable way
  Teachers have to be scrupulously fair in grading test papers.
  Synonyms and related words
  Fair and reasonable
  fair
  reasonable
  natural
Collocates
Adverbs frequently used with fair
▪ absolutely, completely, entirely, perfectly, scrupulously, very
2
reasonable and morally right
a fair deal/price/share:
We aim to provide healthy food at fair prices.
it is (not) fair to do something:
It is not fair to attack his personal life in this way.
Synonyms and related words
Morally good or correct
moral
correct
right
Synonyms and related words
Fair and reasonable
fair
reasonable
natural
3
not bad but not very good
His knowledge of Russian is very good though his Japanese is only fair.
Synonyms and related words
Not very good
poor
average
limited
4
if the weather is fair, it is pleasant and not raining
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe calm and pleasant weather
calm
calm
clear
5
fair hair is blonde (=light yellow) or very light brown in color
Synonyms and related words
Hair color
a platinum blonde
auburn
blond
1. 5a
  someone who is fair has light hair and pale skin
  Synonyms and related words
  Hair color
  a platinum blonde
  auburn
  blond
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe skin color
  a high color
  albino
  (as) white as a sheet
6
a fair guess or idea is reasonable and likely to be correct
have a fair idea of something:
I had a fair idea of what he was going to say next.
Synonyms and related words
Describing and introducing guesses
about
around
at a guess
7
literarybeautiful
a fair princess
Synonyms and related words
Being beautiful
beautiful
glorious
stunning
8
only before nounused for emphasizing that an amount, size, number, etc. is large
By this time she had saved up a fair amount of money.
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe large amounts and quantities
substantial
considerable
extensive

phrases

all’s fair in love and war

be fair

by fair means or foul

fair and square

fair comment

fair enough

fair’s fair

a fair shake

(I) can’t say fairer than that

it’s a fair bet (that)

it’s fair to say (that)

it is only fair

(more than) your fair share of something

play fair

seem/look/be set fair

to be fair

with your own fair hands

fair

noun countable

UK /feə(r)/

Word Forms

singular	fair
plural	fairs

1
an event where people or companies bring their products for you to look at or buy
an antiques/art/book fair
Synonyms and related words
Expositions and shows
exhibition
show
fair
2

fair
or
funfair
an event where people ride on special machines and play games to win prizes
Synonyms and related words
Circuses, amusement parks and fairgrounds
amusement park
carnival
circus
3

fair
or
fête
an event organized by a school, church, or charity to make money
Synonyms and related words
Charity events and fundraisers
bake sale
bazaar
benefit
4
a fair thing or situation
James hates me, and I hate him. So, it’s a fair.
Submitted by:
Boris Marchenko from Russian Federation on 11/03/2018
Open Dictionary - March2018

fair

noun countable

US /fer/

Word Forms

singular	fair
plural	fairs

1

funfair
an event where people ride on special machines and play games to win prizes
Synonyms and related words
Circuses, amusement parks and fairgrounds
amusement park
carnival
circus
2
an event where people or companies bring their products for you to look at or buy
an antiques/art/book fair
Synonyms and related words
Expositions and shows
exhibition
show
fair
3

fête
an event organized by a school, church, or charity to make money
Synonyms and related words
Charity events and fundraisers
bake sale
bazaar
benefit
4
a fair thing or situation
James hates me, and I hate him. So, it’s a fair.
Submitted by:
Boris Marchenko from Russian Federation on 11/03/2018
Open Dictionary - March2018

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