From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishfairfair1 /feə $ fer/ ●●● S1 W2 adjective 1 reasonable and acceptableFAIR a fair situation, system, way of treating people, or judgment seems reasonable, acceptable, and right OPP unfair All we are asking for is a fair wage. £150 is a fair price.fair trial/hearing the right to a fair trial What do you think is the fairest solution? The report is a fair summary of the issues facing us.it is fair to do something It seems fair to give them a second chance.it’s only fair (that) (=used to say that it is right to do something) It’s only fair that we tell him what’s happening.it’s fair to say (that) (=used when you think what you are saying is correct or reasonable) It’s fair to say that by then he had lost the support of his staff.it’s not fair on somebody I can’t carry on working such long hours. It’s not fair on my family.2 treating everyone equallyFAIR treating everyone in a way that is right or equal OPP unfair Why does Eric get to go and I don’t? It’s not fair! Life isn’t always fair.fair to The old law wasn’t fair to women.it’s only fair (that) You pay him $10 an hour – it’s only fair that I should get the same. My boss expects a lot – but he’s very fair.3 → a fair size/amount/number/bit/distance etc4 hair/skinCOLOUR/COLOR someone who is fair, or who has fair hair or skin, has hair or skin that is very light in colour OPP dark5 according to the rulesRIGHT/JUSTIFIED a fair fight, game, or election is one that is played or done according to the rules OPP unfair6 level of abilityORDINARY neither particularly good nor particularly bad SYN average Her written work is excellent but her practical work is only fair. 7 weatherDN weather that is fair is pleasant and not windy, rainy etc SYN fine It should be generally fair and warm for the next few days.8 → have had more than your fair share of something9 → give somebody a fair crack of the whip10 → give somebody/get a fair shake11 → by fair means or foul12 → all’s fair in love and war13 pleasant/attractive old use or literaryNICEBEAUTIFUL/GOOD-LOOKING pleasant and attractive a fair maidenSPOKEN PHRASES14 → fair enough15 → to be fair16 → be fair!17 → fair’s fair18 → fair comment19 → you can’t say fairer than that20 → it’s a fair cop21 → with your own fair handsTHESAURUSfair treating people equally or in the way that is rightIt’s not fair that she gets paid more than me.Everyone has the right to a fair trial.just formal morally right and faira just punishmenta just causea just societyDo you think it was a just war?reasonable fair and sensible according to most people’s standardsa reasonable requestLateness, without a reasonable excuse, will not be tolerated.balanced giving fair and equal treatment to all sides of an argument or subjectBalanced reporting of the news is essential.even-handed giving fair and equal treatment to everyone, especially when it would be easy to favour one particular groupThe drama takes an even-handed look at the consequences of violent crime, both on attackers and their victims.The film is even-handed and does not try to make you support either side.equitable /ˈekwətəbəl/ formal giving equal treatment to everyone involvedWe need an equitable solution to this problem.a more equitable distribution of wealth
Examples from the Corpus
fair• Jenny excels in science, but her grades in English are just fair.• Mrs. Anderson is strict but she's fair.• My grandfather used to say that life isn't always fair.• The old system of student funding seemed much fairer.• Both her children are very fair.• And yet this is hardly fair.• Wearing my competition hat, I shall be happy to examine any evidence which suggests that competition is not fair.• Her husband should help take care of the baby - it's only fair.• Kelson has a reputation as a fair and compassionate judge.• They also have an interest in sport that is seen to be clean, fair and exciting.• All observers noted that the elections had been free and fair and that conduct had exceeded all expectations.• It should be generally fair and warm for at least the next three days.• But people demand a fair chance at justice as surely as they demand medical care.• Despite the discrimination they suffered, my grandparents remained fair, decent, good people.• Observers will be present to ensure a free and fair election.• The new government has promised to hold free and fair elections.• Julia has blue eyes and fair hair.• The tax law provides for a deduction of the fair market value of the work of art.• The Court held that he need not state expressly that his quote was a fair quote.• Oh it was a fair scandal in our village, I can tell you.• Someone fair skin like you should probably use a stronger sunscreen.• The Indians were at first frightened of the fair-skinned Europeans.• Do you think it's fair that she gets paid more money than me?• To be fair, these are complicated, serious issues, and the department has only been discussing them for a short time.• I've always tried to be fair to all my children.• In order to be fair to everyone, ticket sales are limited to two for each person.• Everyone has the right to a fair trial.• All we're asking for is a fair wage.fair trial/hearing• The audi alteram partem rule-the right to a fair hearing.• The police seem to be a law unto themselves sometimes, even if it does prejudice a fair trial.• Timothy McVeigh got a fair trial.• Their lawyers argued the men would not have a fair trial because of the delays, and proceedings against them were stayed.• The question became how a fair trial could be conducted without the excess.• Mr Bonin has had a full and fair hearing on all of his claims.• They also maintained that it would be impossible to hold fair trials so long after the alleged crimes had been committed.• What I did was win us a change of venue on grounds that a fair trial was impossible in Greene County.It’s not fair• She says it's a nightmare come true and it's not fair.• It's not fair, but then, as Del once pointed out, neither is Frank Bruno's backside.• Maybe it's not fair, having it all come down to one game.• It's not fair, I haven't come off that ladder yet.• It's not fair on the people who turn up on time.• It's not fair says John.• It's not fair to keep him in like that. fairfair2 ●●○ noun [countable] 1 (also funfair British English) a form of outdoor entertainment, at which there are large machines to ride on and games in which you can win prizes SYN carnival American English2 American EnglishTA an outdoor event, at which there are large machines to ride on, games to play, and sometimes farm animals being judged and soldstate/county fair3 → book/antiques/craft/trade etc fair4 → job/careers fair5 British EnglishDLO an outdoor event with games and things to eat and drink, usually organized to get money for a school, club etc SYN fête6 British English old-fashionedTA a market where animals and farm products are sold a horse fairExamples from the Corpus
fair• The number of stalls and the range of employers represented at careers fairs has dwindled sharply.• Her ceramics are sought after at craft fairs in Northallerton, Harrogate and York.• But then I went to one of those arts-and-crafts fairs.• Go to a franchise fair, for example.• Did responsible parents take their children to the state fair?• Such fairs are a great morale booster for any nurse who feels unappreciated.• Want the agricultural shows filled with fairs and cheap sideshows so they can enjoy themselves? 9.state/county fair• Clark had set up a booth to display his wares at a county fair to which Roosevelt was paying a visit.• Rains always fell on state and county fairs.• At the time, North County Fair did not exist.• Annie hired a new manager, William A.. Banks, who booked her in a number of state fairs.• None the less, the state fair was going on as scheduled.• Did responsible parents take their children to the state fair?• But in 139 years of attending their state fair, the people of Iowa have never seen this: Butter Elvis.fairfair3 adverb 1 → win (something)/beat somebody fair and square2 → play fairExamples from the Corpus
fair• Her job is to make sure that the money is distributed fairly.• I believe I acted fairly when I expelled those students.From Longman Business Dictionaryfairfair1 /feəfer/ adjective a situation or arrangement which is fair is reasonable, honest, and acceptableThe committee takes seriously the need to be fair and just in everything it does.fair voting proceduresAll we are asking for is a fair wage.fairfair2 noun [countable]MARKETINGCOMMERCE a large show where business people producing a particular product or service can meet to advertise or sell their productsthe Frankfurtbook fairMany businesses deal less formally, for example at trade fairs. → job fair → trade fairOrigin fair1 Old English fæger “beautiful” fair2 (1200-1300) Old French feire, from Latin feriae “holidays” 