fairness

fairness — noun

1. the principle that all people have the right to be treated equally and in a mora

1.nounB2
Definition

the principle that all people have the right to be treated equally and in a morally right way, without one person or group receiving special favour over another.

Example

Ari argued that fairness in the workplace meant equal pay for work of equal value.

collocation: fairness in the workplace

Jisoo's sense of fairness led her to defend the new student against unkind remarks.

collocation: sense of fairness

Common collocations
  • sense of fairness
  • procedural fairness
  • basic fairness
  • fairness and justice
  • commitment to fairness
Synonyms
  • justice

    broader concept that includes legal systems and punishments; fairness is more about everyday treatment.

  • equity

    more formal term, often used in legal or financial contexts; implies adjusting rules to achieve proportional fairness.

  • impartiality

    focuses on not having favourites or biases; less about moral rightness, more about neutrality.

Antonyms
  • unfairness

    direct opposite: the quality of treating people unequally or unjustly.

  • bias

    takes the form of favouring one side; fairness is about the absence of this.

Usage Note

Frequently appears with possessives: 'sense of fairness', 'commitment to fairness'. Often paired with 'justice' in formal contexts: 'fairness and justice'. Subject is commonly an institution or authority figure (judge, manager, referee).

Common Mistakes

The judge showed fair to both sides.
The judge showed fairness to both sides.
'fair' is an adjective; 'fairness' is the noun form needed here.
I believe in the fair.
I believe in fairness.
'the fair' usually refers to a public event; use 'fairness' for the abstract concept.

2. a fixed expression used when you are about to say something that makes a person

2.nounB2
Definition

a fixed expression used when you are about to say something that makes a person or situation seem less bad or more balanced, especially after a criticism or a one-sided argument.

Example

In all fairness to Ziad, he had only been told about the deadline the day before it was due.

pattern: in all fairness to [someone]

The room was small, but in all fairness the price was very cheap for that area.

pattern: in all fairness + contrasting clause

Common collocations
  • in all fairness
  • in fairness to
  • to be fair
Synonyms
  • to be fair

    interchangeable with 'in all fairness', slightly less formal.

  • admittedly

    similar function of conceding a point, but does not include the nuance of defending someone.

  • granted

    similar conceding function, but typically introduces the opposite side of an argument without the moral weight.

Grammar Patterns

in all fairness (to someone)

in fairness

to be fair

Usage Note

This sense only exists inside the fixed phrases 'in all fairness', 'in fairness (to someone)', or 'to be fair'. These phrases open a clause that adds a contrasting or balancing point. The speaker typically agrees with a criticism first, then uses this phrase to introduce a reason that paints a fuller picture. 'In fairness to + person' directly defends someone; 'in all fairness' defends a situation or decision.

Common Mistakes

In fairness, he is a good worker, so the boss should not fire him.
In fairness to him, he has been a good worker for five years, so the boss should hear his side.
'in fairness (to)' needs a specific, factual reason, not just a general opinion.

3. a dated or literary term describing beauty of appearance, particularly a light c

3.nounC1
Definition

a dated or literary term describing beauty of appearance, particularly a light complexion or attractive facial qualities.

Example

The poem praised the fairness of her complexion and the gentle curve of her smile.

collocation: fairness of complexion

In Renaissance art, a woman's fairness was celebrated as a sign of virtue and noble birth.

register: literary / historical

Common collocations
  • fairness of complexion
  • fairness of skin
  • fairness of face
Synonyms
  • beauty

    modern, general term; 'fairness' is narrower and older.

  • loveliness

    similar poetic tone but broader: can apply to personality as well as looks.

Usage Note

This sense is dated or strongly literary in modern English. It is unlikely to appear in everyday conversation outside of historical fiction, poetry, or discussions of classic art. The most common collocation is 'fairness of complexion'. Unlike sense 1, this meaning has no connection to justice or morals.

Idioms

in (all) fairness (to somebody)

idiom

This phrase is used before saying something that supports someone who has been criticized or that makes a previous statement seem more reasonable.

In all fairness to Tom, he warned us about the traffic.

The movie was boring, but in fairness, the acting was excellent.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three words relate to the idea of treating people rightly, but they differ in scope. Fairness is the broadest everyday term — it describes the instinct that people should be treated equally and without favouritism, whether in a classroom, a workplace, or a game. Justice is more formal and often involves a legal or moral system: a court delivers justice, a social movement demands justice for past wrongs. Equity adds the nuance of adjusting treatment to achieve a fair outcome when people start from different positions; for example, giving a taller ladder to a shorter person instead of equal-sized ladders. In short: fairness is a general human value, justice is a system-level or legal concept, and equity is a corrective approach within fairness. A teacher shows fairness by listening to both sides, but a judge delivers justice by applying the law, and an employer pursues equity by offering extra training to under-represented groups.

fairness ↗justice ↗equity ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • in all fairness
  • a sense of fairness
  • fairness and justice
  • fairness of complexion

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English

The word fairness comes from Old English fægernes, meaning 'beauty' or 'pleasantness', formed from fæger ('beautiful, pleasant, fitting') plus the suffix -nes (which became modern -ness). In Old and Middle English, the word referred exclusively to physical beauty and light colouring. Over the 16th–17th centuries, the meaning broadened to include 'moral beauty' — that is, the quality of being just, honest, and impartial — which is now the dominant modern sense. The older 'beauty' meaning survives only in literary or historical use.