fairground

fairground — noun

1. A place with open space and sometimes a few buildings where travelling fairs wit

1.nounB1
Definition

A place with open space and sometimes a few buildings where travelling fairs with rides, games, and food stalls are set up for a short period of public entertainment.

Example

The fairground was crowded with families enjoying the rides and games.

collocation: crowded fairground

Zayd and his sister Tara went to the fairground every summer when they were young.

collocation: went to the fairground

Common collocations
  • fairground ride
  • fairground stall
  • fairground attraction
  • fairground worker
  • visit the fairground
  • hold a fair at the fairground
  • set up at the fairground
  • at the fairground
  • to the fairground
Synonyms
  • funfair

    Refers to the event itself rather than the physical location; more common in British English

  • carnival ground

    A more informal term used in American English, often associated with travelling carnivals

  • showground

    Usually larger and more permanent, often used for agricultural shows and exhibitions; common in British and Australian English

  • midway

    In American English, specifically the part of a fair or carnival where games, rides, and food stalls are located

Grammar Patterns

fairground + verb

at/in the fairground

to the fairground

Usage Note

Usually used in the singular form. In British English this often refers to a temporary site for a travelling funfair, while in American English it may refer to a permanent site where annual state or county fairs are held.

Common Mistakes

The children played at the fairground every day after school.
The children played at the playground every day after school.
A fairground is used for special fairs that last a few days, not for everyday play.
We rode roller coasters all day at the fairground.
We rode roller coasters all day at the amusement park.
A fairground typically has smaller, portable rides; an amusement park has large, permanent rides.

Word family

  • fair
    nounB1
  • funfair
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe places or events for entertainment, but differ in scope. A funfair is specifically the travelling event with rides and games — the thing that happens on a fairground. A carnival is larger and more festive, often associated with processions, music, and community celebration; in American English, 'carnival' can replace 'funfair'. An amusement park is a permanent, large-scale facility with roller coasters and themed areas — far more built-up and commercial than a fairground. A showground is typically a fixed site used periodically for agricultural shows, exhibitions, or trade events, and may lack the rides and games of a fairground. For example: 'The funfair arrived on Tuesday and workers set up the rides on the fairground.' 'The county showground hosts the annual agricultural exhibition.' 'We spent the whole weekend at the amusement park riding coasters.'

funfaircarnival ↗amusement parkshowground

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • fairground attraction
  • fairground ride
  • fairground owner

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Fairground is a compound of two older English words. 'Fair' comes from Old French 'feire', from Latin 'feria' meaning 'holiday' or 'day of rest', and later came to mean a gathering for trade and entertainment. 'Ground' comes from Old English 'grund' meaning 'bottom, foundation, or surface of the earth'. The word fairground has been used since the late 1600s to describe the open space where such gatherings take place.