fair
fair — verb
1. When cloudy, rainy, or stormy weather fairs, the sky becomes bright and clear ag
When cloudy, rainy, or stormy weather fairs, the sky becomes bright and clear again.
The morning rain stopped, and by noon the weather had begun to fair.
Faisal checked the sky and said they should wait for it to fair before sailing.
weather verb: fair used for clearing sky
After three days of storms, the sky finally faired and the sun came out.
past tense: faired
Greta hoped the clouds would fair before the outdoor wedding ceremony began.
If the weather fairs overnight, we can have the picnic on the beach tomorrow.
if-clause for future possibility
- weather fairs
- sky faired
- fair overnight
- clear up
more common in everyday speech; less formal
- brighten up
emphasises sunshine returning; informal
- improve
broader meaning; can refer to any change for the better
- cloud over
opposite movement — sky becoming cloudy
- worsen
general opposite; weather getting worse
Grammar Patterns
fair (of weather)
Usage Note
Mainly used in weather forecasts and sailing contexts in British English. The more common everyday expression is clear up or brighten up.
Common Mistakes
2. In woodworking, metalworking, or construction, to shape and fit pieces of materi
In woodworking, metalworking, or construction, to shape and fit pieces of material so that their outer surfaces meet evenly and smoothly, leaving no visible gap or bump.
The carpenter faired the two boards so the joint felt smooth to the touch.
faired + direct object (boards)
Aoi carefully faired the edge of the tabletop with a plane and sandpaper.
faired + object + tool phrase
Christopher faired the metal panels before welding them into the boat hull.
To fair the surfaces, Caio ran a straightedge across the joint to check for gaps.
The shipwright taught his apprentice how to fair the wooden planks on the deck.
passive infinitive: how to fair + object
- fair a joint
- fair the surface
- fair the edge
- fair the plank
- rough
to make uneven, the opposite of smoothing
Grammar Patterns
fair + object (material)
fair + object (surfaces)
Usage Note
A specialist term in trades such as carpentry, shipbuilding, and metal fabrication. Not used in everyday conversation about joining objects. The more common word for general use is smooth or level.
Common Mistakes
fair — noun
1. An event where sellers set up stalls to display and sell their goods, with food
An event where sellers set up stalls to display and sell their goods, with food and entertainment often available to visitors.
Sora bought handmade jewellery at the Christmas fair in the town square.
collocation: Christmas fair / book fair / craft fair
The annual book fair attracts thousands of visitors from across the country.
Local farmers sell fresh vegetables at the weekend fair every Saturday.
collocation: weekend fair / farmers' fair
Craft fairs are a great place to find unique gifts for your friends.
Trang spent all afternoon walking through the stalls at the antique fair.
- Christmas fair
- book fair
- craft fair
- antique fair
- weekend fair
- farmers' fair
- stalls at the fair
Grammar Patterns
fair + for + noun
fair + about + noun
Usage Note
Commonly combined with a preceding noun that specifies the type of goods, such as 'book fair', 'craft fair', or 'antique fair'.
Common Mistakes
2. an outdoor event with rides, games, and food stalls where people go to enjoy the
an outdoor event with rides, games, and food stalls where people go to enjoy themselves.
The children begged their parents to take them to the fair after school.
collocation: take someone to the fair
Yael won a giant teddy bear by throwing rings at the bottles.
Every summer, a travelling fair sets up in the park near Justin's house.
collocation: travelling fair
The Ferris wheel at the fair gave us a beautiful view of the whole town.
Salma's favourite ride at the fair was the roller coaster.
- travelling fair
- funfair
- fairground
- fair rides
- game stalls
- win a prize at the fair
Usage Note
In British English, this sense is often called a 'funfair'. 'Carnival' is the more common term in American English for a similar event with rides and games.
Common Mistakes
3. A large gathering of companies from the same business sector who display and mar
A large gathering of companies from the same business sector who display and market their offerings to prospective buyers.
The team prepared samples and brochures for the annual trade fair in Taipei.
collocation: trade fair
Over two hundred companies exhibited at the electronics fair last March.
Erik flew to Germany to attend the international book fair.
The job fair at the convention centre helped Nicholas find a position in IT.
collocation: job fair
Valentina's company launched its new product at the design fair.
- trade fair
- job fair
- book fair
- electronics fair
- design fair
- attend a fair
- exhibit at a fair
- exhibition
a more formal event where items are displayed; may not involve direct selling
- trade show
American English term for an industry-specific fair
- expo
short for 'exposition'; often larger and more international in scale
Grammar Patterns
fair + for + noun (purpose)
Usage Note
Frequently paired with an industry name: 'trade fair', 'job fair', 'book fair', 'electronics fair'. This sense differs from sense 1 in that it is primarily for professional networking and business deals rather than casual shopping.
Common Mistakes
4. An outdoor rural event where farmers showcase their livestock, crops, and home-p
An outdoor rural event where farmers showcase their livestock, crops, and home-produced goods, frequently with prize competitions.
Grandpa's sheep won first prize at the county agricultural fair last autumn.
collocation: county fair / agricultural fair
Farmers from all over the region brought their cattle to the annual country fair.
The fair featured competitions for the biggest pumpkin and the best homemade pie.
Ritu's family goes to the state fair every September to see the livestock judging.
collocation: state fair
Tunde's apple orchard won a blue ribbon at the harvest fair.
- county fair
- state fair
- agricultural show
- livestock fair
- harvest fair
- country fair
- blue ribbon
- agricultural show
British term for an event with farm animals and produce
- county fair
American term for a local agricultural competition and exhibition
Usage Note
In American English, 'state fair' or 'county fair' are common names for this type of event. In British English, 'agricultural show' is more typical.
Common Mistakes
5. An outdoor gathering with games, food stalls, and small articles on sale, run to
An outdoor gathering with games, food stalls, and small articles on sale, run to collect donations that support a community cause.
The school organised a summer fair to raise money for new playground equipment.
collocation: summer fair / school fair
Eleni baked cakes for the church charity fair last weekend.
collocation: charity fair
The neighbourhood fair collected donations for the local animal shelter.
Chris bought old books at the charity fair for just two dollars.
Otis helped run the tombola stall at the village fair.
collocation: village fair
- charity fair
- school fair
- church fair
- village fair
- summer fair
- fundraising fair
- tombola
Grammar Patterns
fair + for + noun (purpose)
Usage Note
Often combined with the organisers or location: 'school fair', 'church fair', 'village fair'. This sense overlaps partly with sense 1 but is distinguished by its fundraising purpose.
Common Mistakes
fair — adjective
1. treating everyone in the same way, without letting your own feelings or preferen
treating everyone in the same way, without letting your own feelings or preferences affect your decisions about them.
The judge must be fair to both sides when hearing the case.
fair to [someone]
Gita felt the teacher had been fair when marking the class projects.
A fair company does not pay men and women differently for the same job.
attributive use: fair + noun
It would not be fair to blame only one person for the mistake.
it + be + fair + to-infinitive
The referee worked hard to make a fair decision for both teams.
- fair to
- fair on
- fair treatment
- fair decision
- fair system
- fair hearing
Grammar Patterns
fair + to + someone
fair + on + someone
fair + that-clause
Usage Note
Often followed by to or on: fair to someone means they receive equal treatment; fair on someone tends to appear in questions about whether a rule or situation is reasonable.
Common Mistakes
2. acceptable or appropriate in a situation, matching what most people would consid
acceptable or appropriate in a situation, matching what most people would consider reasonable to expect or receive.
Kevin thought the price was fair for a used car in good condition.
fair price / fair deal
The workers are asking for a fair share of the company's yearly profits.
Niran received a fair offer from the buyer and decided to sell the house.
The landlord offered a fair rent for the small flat near the university.
collocation: fair rent
A fair wage should cover the basic living costs of a family.
- fair price
- fair share
- fair offer
- fair rent
- fair wage
- fair deal
- fair amount
- reasonable
nearly identical; fair is slightly more common in everyday speech
- acceptable
suggests something is good enough, not necessarily ideal
- unreasonable
not acceptable or appropriate for the situation
Grammar Patterns
fair + noun (price/share/offer/amount)
it + be + fair + to-infinitive
Usage Note
Common in collocations about money: fair price, fair deal, fair share, fair offer, fair rent, fair wage. The focus is on what is appropriate for the situation, not on equal treatment of people.
Common Mistakes
3. done or allowed by the official rules of a game, competition, or sport; not invo
done or allowed by the official rules of a game, competition, or sport; not involving cheating.
The goal was fair because the player did not touch the ball with his hand.
fair goal / fair play in sports
If a game is fair, both teams play under the same conditions.
The referee decided the tackle was fair and did not call a foul.
Chess is a fair game because both players start with the same pieces.
Ezra won the race fair and square, without taking any shortcuts.
fair and square (idiomatic adverb)
- fair game
- fair play
- fair tackle
- fair fight
- fair competition
- fair and square
- legal
used more broadly for any rule-following situation, not just games
- legitimate
formal; suggests the action is allowed by authority or law
Grammar Patterns
fair + noun (game/fight/tackle/goal/play)
fair and square
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 1 (IMPARTIAL): this sense is about following the written or unwritten rules of a specific activity, not about treating people equally in general. The opposite in sports is foul or illegal.
4. being the correct and reasonable outcome for someone, based on what they have do
being the correct and reasonable outcome for someone, based on what they have done or what has happened to them.
It is only fair that people who work hard should earn more money.
it is only fair that + clause
After Yan helped me move house, I felt it was fair to buy her dinner.
it + be + fair + to-infinitive
The students thought it was fair that the exam date moved back.
Selim received a fair punishment for breaking the lab equipment.
Tariro felt it was fair that she got the promotion after years of hard work.
- it is (only) fair that
- it's fair to
- fair punishment
- fair outcome
- deserved
focuses on the recipient earning the outcome; fair is broader
- appropriate
suggests suitability rather than earned reward or punishment
- unfair
not matching what someone deserves
- unreasonable
not justified by the situation
Grammar Patterns
it + be + (only) + fair + that-clause
it + be + (only) + fair + to-infinitive
Usage Note
Typically used in the impersonal pattern it is (only) fair that... or it is fair to... The phrase only fair signals that the speaker is acknowledging a moral or practical obligation. Distinguish from sense 2 (REASONABLE): sense 2 is about a price, share, or offer being acceptable; sense 4 is about treatment matching what someone deserves.
Common Mistakes
5. used before making a statement that you believe is true and accurate, especially
used before making a statement that you believe is true and accurate, especially when balancing different opinions or facts.
It is fair to say the project was harder than any of us expected.
it is fair to say that...
I think it's fair to say nobody saw the election result coming.
It would be fair to say Chiara has improved a great deal since last year.
Rodrigo admitted it was fair to say he had underestimated the cost.
To be fair, the restaurant did warn us that the kitchen was short-staffed.
alternative fixed phrase: to be fair
- it is fair to say
- to be fair
- fair to say that
- admittedly
adverb with the same acknowledging function; more formal and concise
- to be honest
similar discourse function but focuses on personal truthfulness rather than balance
Grammar Patterns
it + be + fair + to say + (that-)clause
Usage Note
A discourse marker: the speaker uses it to introduce a statement they expect the listener to agree with, often softening a criticism or acknowledging a positive point. The fixed form is always it is fair to say (that)..., never 'I am fair to say...'. The shorter phrase to be fair has the same function and is more common in casual speech.
Common Mistakes
6. taking every relevant factor into account before forming a judgment that is as b
taking every relevant factor into account before forming a judgment that is as balanced and accurate as possible.
In all fairness, the car has never broken down once in fifteen years.
in all fairness...
To be fair, the hotel room was tiny but it was very clean and cheap.
to be fair + contrasting clause
Sofia tried to draw a fair picture of the project by listing both its costs and its benefits.
collocation: fair picture — balanced, considering all factors
The manager gave a fair picture of the company's financial situation.
fair + noun (picture / assessment / summary)
Given the challenges, the teacher made a fair assessment of each student's work.
- in all fairness
- to be fair
- all things considered
- fair picture
- fair assessment
- fair summary
- objectively
adverb meaning without personal bias; more formal
- all things considered
idiomatic phrase with the same function of balanced judgment
Grammar Patterns
in all fairness
to be fair
all things considered
fair + noun (picture/assessment)
Usage Note
Often used in three fixed expressions: in all fairness (introducing a positive point that balances a criticism), to be fair (same function, less formal), and all things considered (summing up after weighing pros and cons). Distinguish from sense 5 (FAIR TO SAY): sense 5 is about the truthfulness of a statement; sense 6 is about balanced judgment after weighing factors.
Common Mistakes
7. used when you accept that someone's reason for something makes sense, even if yo
used when you accept that someone's reason for something makes sense, even if you do not fully agree with them
Camila said she was too tired to go out, and fair enough — she had worked twelve hours that day.
discourse marker: fair enough accepting a reason
'I do not want to see that film again.' 'Fair enough — we can watch something else instead.'
When Ishaan explained that the traffic was awful, his boss nodded and said fair enough.
Eve admitted she had broken the vase by accident, and fair enough, no one blamed her for it.
- fair enough
- seems fair enough
- that's fair enough
- fair point
similar in register but phrases the acceptance as an acknowledgement of a logical argument rather than a reason
- OK
more neutral and less specific; does not carry the same connotation of understanding someone's reasoning
Grammar Patterns
fair enough as response
subject + said/thought + fair enough
Usage Note
In spoken conversation, 'fair enough' is typically used as a standalone response to someone's explanation or excuse, not within a longer sentence.
Common Mistakes
8. used when asking someone to judge a situation in a balanced way, or to treat som
used when asking someone to judge a situation in a balanced way, or to treat someone in the same way they treat others
To be fair to Nia, she only found out about the meeting ten minutes before it started.
phrase: to be fair + to + person for balanced judgement
Fair's fair — you chose the restaurant last time, so now it is my turn to pick one.
The referee told the players to be fair and let the other team have the ball back.
Abigail said it was not fair that she had to clean the kitchen while her brother did nothing.
- to be fair
- fair's fair
- it's not fair
- be fair
- justly
more formal; used in legal or moral contexts rather than everyday appeals
- reasonably
overlaps in meaning but is less idiomatic in conversational appeals
- unfairly
the direct opposite in terms of treatment or judgement
Grammar Patterns
to be fair + clause
fair's fair + clause
be fair + imperative
Usage Note
'To be fair' typically introduces a point that balances a previous criticism, while 'fair's fair' is a claim that an arrangement should be equal for all involved.
Common Mistakes
9. a reasonable opportunity for someone to explain their side of something, or to s
a reasonable opportunity for someone to explain their side of something, or to show what they can do, before a decision is made about them
The school promised to give each student a fair hearing before deciding on the new rules.
collocation: give + someone + a fair hearing
Before you judge Min, you should listen to her and give her a fair hearing first.
Every person who applies for the job deserves a fair chance to show their skills.
The judge made sure the woman on trial received a fair hearing with a lawyer to speak for her.
- fair hearing
- fair chance
- fair trial
- give a fair hearing
- get a fair hearing
- fair trial
narrower; specifically legal, referring to a court proceeding with legal representation
- fair chance
broader; can refer to any opportunity to succeed or prove oneself
- bias
the opposite of a fair hearing — making a decision based on prejudice rather than evidence
Grammar Patterns
give + someone + a fair hearing
get + a fair hearing
deserve + a fair chance
Usage Note
This sense is most commonly found in legal and institutional contexts where someone's rights are at stake, but it also appears in everyday situations such as school or workplace disputes.
10. done following accepted standards of honesty, without any form of cheating or se
done following accepted standards of honesty, without any form of cheating or secret unfair actions
Pim won the race fair and square — the other runners all said he deserved the prize.
phrase: fair and square for winning honestly
The team beat their opponents fair and square, with no help from the referee at all.
Elena earned her promotion fair and square by working harder than anyone else in the office.
Some people thought she had cheated, but she proved she had passed the test fair and square.
- fair and square
- win fair and square
- earn fair and square
- beat fair and square
- honestly
more general; lacks the emphatic, idiomatic tone of 'fair and square'
- legitimately
more formal; often used in legal or business contexts
- by cheating
the direct opposite — achieving something through dishonest means
Grammar Patterns
win + fair and square
earn + fair and square
beat + someone + fair and square
Usage Note
'Fair and square' is a fixed idiomatic phrase — the two words always appear together in this order and cannot be separated by other words.
Common Mistakes
11. hitting or landing directly and with force on a specific part of someone's body,
hitting or landing directly and with force on a specific part of someone's body, without anything blocking the impact
The tennis ball hit Talia fair and square on the shoulder during the warm-up session.
phrase: hit + fair and square + on + body part
Alessia slipped on the wet floor and landed fair and square on her knee, which hurt a lot.
The snowball caught the teacher fair and square on the back of his coat as he walked away.
During the boxing match, the taller fighter struck his opponent fair and square on the jaw.
- fair and square
- hit fair and square
- land fair and square
- catch fair and square
Grammar Patterns
hit + someone + fair and square + on + body part
land + fair and square + on + body part
catch + someone + fair and square + on + body part
Usage Note
This sense only applies to physical contact — a ball, a punch, or a fall. It cannot be used for metaphorical or emotional impact.
Common Mistakes
12. having skin that is naturally light in colour and tends to burn easily in sunlig
having skin that is naturally light in colour and tends to burn easily in sunlight, or having hair that is light yellow or light golden in shade
People with fair skin need to wear sunscreen even when the sky is cloudy in summer.
collocation: fair skin meaning light-coloured skin
When Élise was a baby she had fair hair, but it turned brown as she grew older.
The little boy had a fair complexion and bright blue eyes that everyone noticed at once.
My grandmother had fair hair that went silver when she got older, and she was always proud of it.
- fair skin
- fair hair
- fair complexion
- fair-haired
- dark
the opposite for both skin and hair colour
Grammar Patterns
fair + noun (skin, hair, complexion)
subject + be + fair
Usage Note
When describing skin, 'fair' is more common in British English than American English, where 'pale' or 'light-skinned' are more typical. For hair, 'fair' can mean blonde, especially in older or more formal writing.
Common Mistakes
13. quite big in size, number, or amount — used to say something is larger or more t
quite big in size, number, or amount — used to say something is larger or more than you might expect.
Gabriel walked a fair distance just to reach the nearest grocery store.
collocation: fair distance / fair amount / fair number
The kitchen renovation took a fair amount of time because the cabinets were custom-made.
A fair number of volunteers helped clean up the park after the storm.
Olivia earned a fair sum of money working at the summer camp for two months.
collocation: fair sum (of money)
The old barn contained a fair quantity of antique furniture and tools.
- fair distance
- fair amount
- fair number
- fair sum
- fair quantity
- fair size
- considerable
more formal than 'fair', often used with amounts
- sizeable
focuses on physical size rather than number
- decent
more informal; also implies adequacy, not just size
- tiny
used for very small amounts or sizes
- insignificant
formal; suggests the amount is not worth noticing
Grammar Patterns
fair + noun (amount/distance/number/sum/quantity)
Usage Note
Always appears before a noun — the pattern is fair + measure noun (distance, amount, number, sum, quantity). Cannot be used predicatively (*the distance was fair).
Common Mistakes
14. at a level that is acceptable but not especially good or bad; of ordinary standa
at a level that is acceptable but not especially good or bad; of ordinary standard.
The food at the hotel restaurant was fair, but nothing to write home about.
neutral evaluation: 'fair' as acceptable but unremarkable
Hamza thought the movie was only fair compared to the award-winning book.
Her performance in the piano exam was fair, though her teacher had expected more polish.
The students turned in a fair piece of work, but the professor wanted deeper analysis.
Sayaka received a fair grade on the history paper — not great, but a pass.
- only fair
- just fair
- fair grade
- fair result
- fair performance
- fair quality
Grammar Patterns
be fair
only fair
fair + noun
Usage Note
Used both before a noun and after verbs like 'be' or 'seem'. Often paired with 'only' or 'just' to emphasise mediocrity: 'only fair', 'just fair'.
Common Mistakes
15. (of a guess, chance, or idea) quite good and reasonably likely to be correct or
(of a guess, chance, or idea) quite good and reasonably likely to be correct or successful, but not excellent or certain.
There is a fair chance that the train will arrive before the rain starts.
collocation: a fair chance (that...)
Sirin thought her business idea had a fair chance of attracting investors.
The team has a fair shot at reaching the finals if they keep playing well.
collocation: fair shot — informal variant
Quinn made a fair guess about how many jellybeans were in the glass jar.
The doctor said there is a fair chance that Obi will make a full recovery.
- fair chance
- fair guess
- fair idea
- fair shot
- fair possibility
- good
slightly stronger than 'fair'; implies a higher probability
- reasonable
similar probability but more formal
- decent
informal; similar to 'fair' but slightly more optimistic
Grammar Patterns
fair + noun (chance/guess/idea/shot)
Common Mistakes
16. (of the weather) sunny and without rain or strong wind; bright and mild.
(of the weather) sunny and without rain or strong wind; bright and mild.
The weather forecast says it will be fair and warm all weekend.
weather sense: fair and sunny / fair and warm
We decided to hold the wedding outdoors since the weather was fair.
The hikers set out early while the sky was still fair and clear.
After three days of heavy rain, the weather finally turned fair on Sunday morning.
Fair weather brought large crowds of people to the seaside town.
- fair weather
- fair and warm
- fair and sunny
- fair and clear
- turn fair
Grammar Patterns
the weather is fair
fair weather
it is fair
Usage Note
Used mainly in weather forecasts and formal descriptions. In everyday conversation, speakers are more likely to say 'nice' or 'fine' weather. 'Fair' often implies calm conditions without rain.
Common Mistakes
17. (of a woman or girl) attractively pretty; pleasing to look at in a delicate, gra
(of a woman or girl) attractively pretty; pleasing to look at in a delicate, graceful way.
The old poem described a fair maiden walking through the forest at dawn.
old-fashioned literary use: 'fair maiden' / 'fair lady'
In the fairy tale, a fair princess lived in a castle by the sea.
The artist's portrait showed a fair young woman with flowers in her hair.
Élise was the fairest woman in the village, but she valued kindness above looks.
Legends tell of a fair queen whose wisdom was as great as her beauty.
- fair maiden
- fair lady
- fair princess
- fair queen
- fair woman
- plain
not particularly attractive; opposite of beautiful
Grammar Patterns
fair + noun (maiden/lady/woman)
the fairest
Usage Note
This sense is old-fashioned and literary in modern English. In everyday speech, 'beautiful', 'pretty', or 'lovely' are used instead. It appears most often in fairy tales, poetry, and historical fiction.
Common Mistakes
18. considered a suitable or acceptable person or thing to criticise, attack, or com
considered a suitable or acceptable person or thing to criticise, attack, or compete against, especially because of a public role or particular behaviour.
Politicians are considered fair game for comedy shows and satirical cartoons.
idiom: 'fair game' — legitimate target for criticism
The celebrity's expensive lifestyle made her fair game for media criticism.
Once you enter the public debate, your views become fair game for opponents.
The company's poor safety record made it fair game for government investigators.
In sports, a player who makes a mistake becomes fair game for the other team.
collocation: become fair game / make someone fair game
- fair game
- considered fair game
- become fair game
- make someone fair game
- vulnerable
focuses on weakness rather than legitimacy of targeting
- open to criticism
more formal; describes the state rather than the idiom
- exposed
suggests lack of protection rather than permissibility
- protected
not open to criticism or attack
- off-limits
informal; not allowed as a target
Grammar Patterns
be fair game
consider someone fair game
become fair game
Usage Note
Almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'fair game'. The 'game' here means 'target of pursuit', not a sport or entertainment. Not used in the form *'a fair game' (with article) in this sense — the phrase is uncountable.
Common Mistakes
19. describes a written document, such as a handwritten page or a typed paper, that
describes a written document, such as a handwritten page or a typed paper, that has been neatly prepared in its final form with no marks, crossings-out, or corrections showing on it
Christopher copied his lecture notes into a fair version before handing them to the tutor.
collocation: fair version / fair copy
After finishing the poem, Bao wrote out a fair copy on clean white paper.
The editor asked for a fair draft of the article, free of scribbles and corrections.
attributive use before 'draft'
Shanti spent the whole evening producing a fair manuscript of her research paper.
The old letter was kept as a fair copy, with each word written in ink.
- fair copy
- fair manuscript
- fair draft
- fair version
Grammar Patterns
fair + [document noun] (copy, manuscript, draft)
Usage Note
This sense almost always appears before a noun such as 'copy', 'manuscript', or 'draft'. The fixed phrase 'fair copy' is by far the most common pattern and is still used in editorial and archival contexts.
Common Mistakes
In certain situations, especially competitive ones, any behavior is considered acceptable to achieve your goal.
Maya took her friend's idea for the project, but all's fair in love and war.
Did you really lie to get the job? Well, all's fair in love and war.
be fair!
idiomUsed to tell someone to judge or treat others in a reasonable and just way.
Be fair! Tom didn't break the vase on purpose.
Be fair! You can't blame Sara for the mistake.
Using any method, honest or dishonest, to achieve something.
Diego is determined to win the race by fair means or foul.
She will get that promotion by fair means or foul.
A reasonable chance to show what you can do.
Every student deserves a fair crack of the whip.
I hope the new manager gives me a fair crack of the whip.
fair enough
idiomUsed to say that you accept a suggestion or reason as reasonable.
‘We'll meet at 8.’ ‘Fair enough.’
If you don't want to come, fair enough, but let Bill know.
a fair few
idiomA fairly large number of something.
I've visited that museum a fair few times.
She has a fair few books on her shelf.
fair go
idiomUsed to ask someone to be reasonable or fair.
Fair go! You can't expect me to do all the work.
Hey, fair go! I was here first.
To allow someone the chance to explain their side before making a decision.
The judge gave the defendant a fair hearing.
I hope the committee gives us a fair hearing.
To receive or give fair treatment that provides an equal chance.
Minority students deserve a fair shake in education.
Did the new employee get a fair shake from the boss?
An amount that is more than what is reasonable or expected.
He has more than his fair share of problems.
I've had my fair share of success this year.
fair to middling
idiomNeither very good nor very bad; average.
‘How are you feeling?’ ‘Oh, fair to middling.’
The movie was fair to middling, not great but not terrible.
it’s a fair cop
idiomSaid by someone caught doing wrong to admit they are guilty.
When the teacher caught him cheating, he said, 'It's a fair cop.'
‘It's a fair cop,’ the thief muttered as the police handcuffed him.
fair’s fair
idiomUsed to say that something is reasonable or that everyone should be treated equally.
Fair's fair, Maya paid for lunch last time so I'll pay today.
Come on, fair's fair—you took the biggest piece, now share with Diego.
fair — adverb
1. in a way that treats everyone equally, follows the accepted rules, and does not
in a way that treats everyone equally, follows the accepted rules, and does not involve cheating or dishonesty
Asher always plays fair, even when the referee is not looking at him.
collocation: play fair
The companies agreed to compete fair and not steal each other's customers.
collocation: compete fair
Maeve told her younger brother they would split the cake fair — half for each.
The election was run fair, with every vote counted in front of witnesses.
passive: was run fair
Emre promised to play fair and return the money he found in the library.
- play fair
- fight fair
- compete fair
- split fair
- deal fair with
- run fair
- justly
more formal; emphasises moral rightness over rule-following
- honestly
focuses on truthfulness and sincerity rather than rule compliance
- even-handedly
formal; stresses equal treatment of all parties
- unfairly
treating people unequally or breaking the rules
- dishonestly
cheating or lying to gain advantage
Usage Note
Frequently used in fixed phrases with verbs such as 'play,' 'fight,' 'compete,' 'deal,' and 'split.'
Common Mistakes
2. to a moderate or reasonable degree — used before an adjective to soften or quali
to a moderate or reasonable degree — used before an adjective to soften or qualify its meaning, similar to 'fairly' or 'quite'
The weather was fair warm for November, so they ate outside.
pattern: fair + adjective (fair warm)
Hari did a fair good job on the painting, though a few edges needed work.
pattern: fair + adjective (fair good)
The queue at the ticket office was fair long, so Tyler bought tickets online instead.
Obi thought the exam was fair difficult, but he passed in the end.
pattern: fair + adjective (fair difficult)
- fair warm
- fair good
- fair long
- fair difficult
- fair decent
- fairly
standard equivalent; used in both formal and informal contexts
- quite
more common in formal English; slightly stronger degree
- reasonably
emphasises adequacy rather than degree
Grammar Patterns
fair + adjective
Usage Note
Primarily used in informal British English, not in formal writing or American English. Limited to modifying adjectives of degree or quality (fair good, fair warm, fair long).
Common Mistakes
fair and square
idiomin an honest way that follows the rules, without any cheating or deception
Tyler won the race fair and square, beating everyone by two seconds.
The court decided that the property had been bought fair and square, so the sale was valid.
Word family
- fairnessnounB1
- fairlyadverbB1
- unfairadjectiveB1
- unfairnessnounB2
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/1
形容詞 fair 在不同義項下有相應的中文對譯詞。在「公正、不偏袒」的語境中（adjective/1），公平側重待人處事一視同仁，是日常最通用的詞；公正則語氣較強，帶有道德與法律正當性的意味，常用於司法與制度場合（如「公正的判決」）；合理強調符合常理與預期，用於價格、要求等（adjective/2）而非人際對待。在天氣方面（adjective/16），晴朗的與晴天的、無雨同義，但 fair 在預報中偏正式，日常更常用「好天氣」。形容膚色時（adjective/12），白皙的指天生膚色白，為中性描述；蒼白的則帶有病態感，強調因生病或驚嚇而失去血色，兩者不可混用。
Common collocations
Nouns
- fair deal
- fair price
- fair chance
- fair game
- fair play
- fair share
- fair warning
- fair trial
- fair hearing
- fair fight
- fair offer
- fair wage
Phrases
- fair and square
- in all fairness
- to be fair
- fair enough
- fair's fair
- fair to say
Etymology
源自古英語 fæger，本義為「美麗的、令人愉悅的」，主要用於形容容貌（如 fair maiden）和天氣（fair weather）。中古英語時期，詞義逐漸延伸至「適當的、符合倫理的」，進而發展出「公正的、不偏袒的」這一核心現代用法。同一詞根的 unfair 在 14 世紀才出現，fairness 則於 15 世紀始見文獻。