fair1

Pronunciation: /fɛː/

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Definition of fair

adjective

1treating people equally without favouritism or discrimination:the group has achieved fair and equal representation for all its members a fairer distribution of wealth
just or appropriate in the circumstances:to be fair, this subject poses special problems it’s not fair to take it out on her
archaic (of a means or procedure) not violent: try first by fair means

2(of hair or complexion) light; blonde:a pretty girl with long fair hair
(of a person) having a light complexion or hair:he’s very fair with blue eyes

3considerable though not outstanding in size or amount:he did a fair bit of coaching
moderately good:he believes he has a fair chance of success
Australian/NZ informal complete; utter:this cow is a fair swine

4(of weather) fine and dry:a fair autumn day
(of the wind) favourable:they set sail with a fair wind

5 archaic beautiful:the fairest of her daughters
(of words) specious despite being initially attractive: the Sophists have plenty of brave words and fair devices

adverb

1without cheating or trying to achieve unjust advantage:no one could say he played fair

2 [as submodifier] dialect to a high degree:she’ll be fair delighted to see you

noun

archaic

a beautiful woman: pursuing his fair in a solitary street

verb

[no object] dialect

(of the weather) become fine:looks like it’s fairing off some

Phrases

all's fair in love and war: proverb in certain highly charged situations, any method of achieving your objective is justifiable.
by fair means or foul: using whatever means are necessary: they were determined to win, by fair means or foul
fair and square
a fair deal: equitable treatment: you will always get a fair deal when you book with us
fair dinkum: see dinkum.
fair dos: British informal used to request just treatment or accept that it has been given:Fair dos—you don’t believe I’ve been idle all this time?
fair enough: informal used to admit that something is reasonable or acceptable: ‘I can’t come because I’m working late.’ ‘Fair enough.’
fair game: a person or thing that is considered a reasonable target for criticism, exploitation, or attack: when it came to practical jokes, he regarded anybody as fair game
fair go: Australian/NZ informal used for emphasis or to request someone to be reasonable or fair:Fair go! How can I ask a thing like that?
fair name: dated a good reputation: the fair name of the squadron
the fair (or fairer) sex: dated or humorous women.
fair's fair: informal used to request just treatment or assert that a situation is just:Fair’s fair—we were here first
for fair: US informal dated completely and finally:I hope we’ll be rid of him for fair
in a fair way to do something: likely to achieve something:you are in a fair way to have cured yourself
it's a fair cop: British informal an admission that the speaker has been caught doing wrong and deserves punishment.
no fair: North American informal unfair (often used in or as a petulant protestation): no fair—we’re the only kids in the whole school who don’t get to watch TV on school nights
be set fair: British (of the weather) be fine and likely to stay fine for a time: figurativeconditions were set fair for stable political and economic development

Derivatives

fairish
fairness

Origin:

Old English fæger 'pleasing, attractive', of Germanic origin; related to Old High German fagar

Do not confuse fare with fair. Fare means 'money paid by passengers' (a bus fare) or 'progress in a particular way' (the party fared badly in the election), whereas fair mainly means 'treating people equally; just' (a fair deal) or is used to describe hair as being light-coloured.

fair in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of fair in the US English dictionary

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Other

fair1

adjective

adverb

noun

verb

Phrases

all's fair in love and war

by fair means or foul

fair and square

a fair deal

fair dinkum

fair dos

fair enough

fair game

fair go

fair name

the fair (or fairer) sex

fair's fair

for fair

in a fair way to do something

it's a fair cop

no fair

be set fair

Derivatives

fairish

fairness

Origin:

fair in other Oxford dictionaries

Nearby words

More results for fair

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