fair1
Pronunciation: /fɛː/
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
adverb
Phrases
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all's fair in love and war
- proverb in certain highly charged situations, any method of achieving your objective is justifiable.
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by fair means or foul
- using whatever means are necessary: they were determined to win, by fair means or foul
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fair and square
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a fair deal
- equitable treatment: you will always get a fair deal when you book with us
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fair dinkum
- see dinkum
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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?
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fair enough
- informal used to admit that something is reasonable or acceptable: ‘I can’t come because I’m working late.’ ‘Fair enough.’
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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
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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?
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fair name
- dated a good reputation: the fair name of the squadron
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the fair (or fairer) sex
- dated or humorous women.
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fair's fair
- informal used to request just treatment or assert that a situation is just: Fair’s fair—we were here first
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for fair
- US informal completely and finally: I hope we’ll be rid of him for fair
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in a fair way to do something
- likely to achieve something: you are in a fair way to have cured yourself
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it's a fair cop
- British informal an admission that the speaker has been caught doing wrong and deserves punishment.
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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
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be set fair
- British (of the weather) be fine and likely to stay fine for a time: figurative conditions were set fair for stable political and economic development
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.