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fair(adjective)BrE / feə(r) / NAmE / fer / - acceptable and appropriate in a particular situation
opposite unfair
https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/unfair - a fair deal/wage/price/question
- The punishment was very fair.
- In the end, a draw was a fair result.
- I give you fair warning, I’m not always this generous.
- Was it really fair to him to ask him to do all the work?
- It's not fair on the students to keep changing the timetable.
- It's only fair to add that they were not told about the problem until the last minute.
- I think it is fair to say that they are pleased with this latest offer.
- It seems only fair that they should give us something in return.
- To be fair, she behaved better than we expected.
- ‘You should really have asked me first.’ ‘Right, okay, fair comment.’
- treating everyone equally and according to the rules or law
opposite unfair
https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/unfair - She has always been scrupulously fair.
- demands for a fairer distribution of wealth
- We have to be fair to both players.
- to receive a fair trial
- free and fair elections
- It's not fair! He always gets more than me.
- The new tax is fairer than the old system.
- They are fair and decent employers.
- his vision of a fairer, kinder society
- quite large in number, size or amount
- A fair number of people came along.
- a fair-sized town
- We've still got a fair bit (= quite a lot) to do.
- My birthday’s still a fair way off (= it’s still a long time until my birthday).
- quite good
- There's a fair chance that we might win this time.
- It's a fair bet that they won't turn up.
- I have a fair idea of what happened.
- His knowledge of French is only fair.
- pale in colour
See related entries: Hair colour
https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/topic/hair_colour/fair_2 - a fair complexion
- She has long fair hair.
- All her children are fair (= they all have fair hair).
- bright and not raining
synonym fine
https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/fine_1 - a fair and breezy day
- The day was set fair with the spring sun shining down.
- not too strong and blowing in the right direction
- They set sail with the first fair wind.
- beautiful
See related entries: Attractiveness
https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/topic/attractiveness/fair_1 - a fair maiden
- in some situations any type of behaviour is acceptable to get what you want
- used to tell somebody to be reasonable in their judgement of somebody/something
- Be fair! She didn't know you were coming.
- using dishonest methods if honest ones do not work
- She’s determined to win, by fair means or foul.
- a reasonable opportunity to show that you can do something
- I felt we weren't given a fair crack of the whip.
- used to say that an idea or suggestion seems reasonable
- ‘We'll meet at 8.’ ‘Fair enough.’
- If you don't want to come, fair enough, but let Bill know.
- (to allow somebody) the opportunity to give their opinion of something before deciding if they have done something wrong, often in court
- I'll see that you get a fair hearing.
- used, especially as an exclamation, to say that you think that an action, decision, etc. is acceptable and appropriate because it means that everyone will be treated fairly
- Fair's fair—you can't expect them to cancel everything just because you can't make it.
- Come on, fair dos—you’ve had your chance, now let me try.
- (to give somebody/get) fair treatment that gives you the same chance as somebody else
- Are minority students getting a fair shake at college?
- (more than) an amount of something that is considered to be reasonable or acceptable
- He has more than his fair share of problems.
- I've had my fair share of success in the past.
- not particularly good or bad
- ‘How are you feeling today?’ ‘Oh, fair to middling.’
- used by somebody who is caught doing something wrong, to say that they admit that they are wrong
Extra Examples- I don’t care what he thinks. It seems perfectly fair to me.
- I’ll give you ten pounds each to make it fair.
- It’s hardly fair that I should be working while everyone else is enjoying themselves!
- It’s important to be scrupulously fair when grading the final exam paper.
- That doesn’t seem quite fair.
- That seems fair to all sides.
- To be fair, we hadn’t really spent enough time on the job.
- ‘You really should have asked me first.’ ‘OK. Fair comment.’
- All we’re asking for is a fair wage.
- Everyone has the right to a fair trial.
- For the first time, free and fair elections will be held.
- I don’t think the sentence was very fair.
- I give you fair warning, I’m not always this generous.
- It was a fair and breezy day.
- It wasn’t really fair to ask him to do all the work.
- It’s a fair question, and it deserves to be taken seriously.
- It’s fair to say that they are pleased with the latest offer.
- It’s not fair on the students…
- It’s not fair to the students to keep changing the schedule.
- It’s not fair! He always gets more than me!
- It’s only fair to say that this is the first time she’s heard about the problem.
- It’s quite expensive, but I still think it’s a fair price.
- Scoring twenty points was a fair achievement.
- The day was set fair with the spring sun shining down.
- The new tax is fairer than the old one.
- They are demanding a fairer distribution of the earth’s resources.
- To be fair, she behaved better than we expected.
Word Origin- adjective Old English fæger ‘pleasing, attractive’, of Germanic origin; related to Old High German fagar.
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