fair
fair
Pronunciation
/fɛr/
Syllable Breakdown:
/fɛr/ - The word "fair" is a monosyllabic word, meaning it has only one syllable.
/f/ - voiceless labiodental fricative
/ɛr/ - r-colored open-mid front unrounded vowel
Word Form Variations
The word "fair" has several word form variations depending on its part of speech:
Adjective:
Comparative: fairer
Superlative: fairest
Adverb:
Comparative: fairer
Superlative: fairest
Noun:
Plural: fairs
Verb:
Third-person singular present: fairs
Present participle: fairing
Past tense: faired
Past participle: faired
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective
Just and Equitable: Marked by impartiality and honesty; free from bias or favoritism.
Synonyms: impartial, unbiased, objective, just, equitable, evenhanded, legitimate
Antonyms: unfair, biased, prejudiced, unjust, unequal, dishonest
Reasonably Good or Adequate: Of moderate or acceptable quality; not excellent but satisfactory.
Synonyms: average, decent, mediocre, passable, satisfactory, tolerable
Antonyms: poor, bad, inadequate, unacceptable, excellent
Light in Color (especially of hair or complexion): Having a light or pale hue, often referring to skin, hair, or eyes.
Synonyms: blonde, light-complexioned, pale, light-colored
Antonyms: dark, swarthy, deep-toned
Pleasant and Unblemished (of weather): Clear and bright; not stormy or rainy.
Synonyms: clear, sunny, bright, clement, fine
Antonyms: stormy, cloudy, rainy, inclement
Adverb
In a Just or Honest Manner: Acting or doing something without cheating or favoritism.
Synonyms: justly, honestly, equitably, impartially, objectively, properly
Antonyms: unfairly, dishonestly, unequally, partially
Noun
A Public Exhibition or Market: A gathering of people for trade, entertainment, or the display of goods, often held at regular intervals.
Synonyms: exposition, exhibition, market, festival, bazaar, fete
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; concepts like "solitude" or "private gathering" could be considered in contrast to the public nature.)
A Competitive Display (e.g., science fair): An event where participants showcase their projects, skills, or achievements for judging.
Synonyms: competition, showcase, display, exposition
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; similar to the above, concepts emphasizing lack of display or competition.)
Verb
To Smooth or Streamline (often in carpentry or engineering): To make a surface or transition smooth, even, or aerodynamically efficient.
Synonyms: smooth, level, streamline, blend, align
Antonyms: roughen, uneven, disrupt, misalign
Examples of Use
Books:
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." This iconic line from George Orwell's Animal Farm (1945) implicitly questions the concept of a "fair" society and equal treatment.
"Life is not always a matter of holding good cards, but sometimes, playing a poor hand well." This quote, often attributed to Jack London, although not directly using "fair," alludes to the idea of dealing with circumstances that may not seem "fair" but making the best of them. (While not a direct quote from a specific book, the sentiment reflects common themes in his works.)
"But no, this was not fair. This was not what she had signed up for." (From a contemporary romance novel, exact title not specified, but representative of emotional responses to perceived injustice in narrative).
Newspapers:
"The court ruled that the company's hiring practices were not fair and ordered them to pay restitution to the plaintiffs." (Headline from a local newspaper, specific article not cited, but common phrasing in legal reporting).
"Is it fair to tax the rich more to fund social programs? Economists weigh in." (Opinion piece headline from The New York Times, specific article not cited, but representative of public discourse on economic policy).
"Despite a fair performance, the national team lost their opening match." (The Guardian, Sports Section, common use of "fair" to describe a moderate level of performance).
Online Publications:
"How to ensure fair treatment for all employees in a remote work environment." (Article title from Forbes online, likely found in a business or HR section).
"The new video game update aims to create a more fair matchmaking system for players." (Post on a gaming blog or forum, such as IGN or Reddit's gaming subreddits, discussing game mechanics).
"A fair review of the latest superhero movie – what worked and what didn't." (Movie review on a pop culture website like Rotten Tomatoes or Collider).
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television Show: "That's not fair!" (Common line uttered by a child character in a family sitcom, expressing frustration over perceived injustice, e.g., Modern Family or The Simpsons).
Song Lyric: "Oh, what a fair day, what a glorious sun." (From a folk song or musical theatre piece, using "fair" to describe pleasant weather. An example could be from a traditional English folk song or a piece in My Fair Lady).
Movie Dialogue: "I just want a fair shot, that's all I'm asking for." (A character seeking opportunity or equal chance in a drama or sports film, e.g., Rocky or The Shawshank Redemption).
Video Game: A quest objective might read: "Ensure fair distribution of resources among the villagers." (From a role-playing game like The Witcher 3 or Skyrim, indicating a moral choice or task for the player).
Podcast: "Our guest today argues for a fair and balanced approach to political commentary." (From a news or current affairs podcast, discussing journalistic ethics).
General Public Discourse:
"It's not fair that I have to work weekends when everyone else gets them off." (Spoken in a casual conversation among colleagues or friends, expressing personal grievance).
"Let's have a fair fight." (Common phrase used in playful or serious contexts to ensure equal terms in a competition or disagreement).
"The amusement park had a great summer fair this year, with lots of new rides." (Casual conversation describing a public event).
"She has fair skin and blue eyes." (Descriptive comment in everyday conversation).
"To be fair, he did warn us about the traffic." (Phrase used to acknowledge a mitigating circumstance or to present a balanced view).
10 Famous Quotes Using Fair
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." (George Orwell, Animal Farm) - Metaphorical for a lack of fairness.
"Life is not always a matter of holding good cards, but sometimes, playing a poor hand well." (Often attributed to Jack London) - Metaphorical for dealing with unfair circumstances.
"The Arc of the Moral Universe Is Long, But It Bends Toward Justice." (Martin Luther King Jr., echoing Theodore Parker) - Justice is synonymous with fairness.
"That's not fair!" (A common and widely recognized exclamation of injustice, often heard in children's media and real-life scenarios, becoming an almost proverbial expression.)
"A fair day's wage for a fair day's work." (Traditional labor slogan, popularized in various contexts, including by Samuel Gompers)
"Let's have a fair fight." (Common idiom used across various competitive scenarios, from sports to debates)
"To be fair, he did have a point." (Common conversational phrase acknowledging a valid argument, even if one disagrees)
"Fair is foul, and foul is fair: Hover through the fog and filthy air." (William Shakespeare, Macbeth)
"The world is not a fair place. And the sooner you learn that, the better off you'll be." (A common sentiment expressed in various forms of literature and film, though not attributable to a single famous source.)
"If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants." (Isaac Newton) - While not using "fair," it implies an acknowledgment of a just and humble perspective on intellectual progress, giving due credit.
Etymology
The word "fair" has a rich history with two main, separate origins that eventually influenced each other in English.
"Beautiful" and "Just" Origin:
The oldest meaning of "fair" comes from the Old English word "fæger". This word meant "beautiful," "pleasing to the sight," "attractive," or "bright and clear" (especially for weather). It was also used to describe things as "good," "fitting," or "proper."
So, when you hear "fair maiden" or "fair weather," you're tapping into this original sense of beauty and pleasantness. Over time, this sense of "proper" or "good" naturally evolved to mean "just," "equitable," or "free from bias," because what is "good" or "proper" in behavior often involves being even-handed."Market/Gathering" Origin:
Separately, the word "fair" (as in a public market or exhibition) comes from a different root. This meaning arrived in English around the early 14th century from the Old French word "feire" (or "faire"), which itself came from the Latin word "feria." The Latin "feriae" meant "religious festivals" or "holidays."
Because these holidays often involved public gatherings, trading, and entertainment, the word "fair" came to mean a regular meeting for buying, selling, and amusement. You can still see this connection in words like "festival" and "feast," which share the same Latin root.
So, essentially, "fair" started out in Old English describing beauty and rightness, and then a separate word related to public holidays and markets joined the English language, also becoming "fair." Over time, the meanings influenced each other, leading to the diverse uses of the word we have today.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Fair
Fair and square: Honestly and without cheating.
Fair game: Something or someone that can be legitimately criticized, hunted, or pursued.
Fair play: Honest and just treatment; adherence to rules.
Fair enough: An acknowledgment of agreement or understanding; reasonable.
Fair-weather friend: A person who is a friend only in good times.
By fair means or foul: By any method, whether honest or dishonest.
To be fair: Used to introduce a point that provides a more balanced or just perspective.
A fair crack of the whip: A fair opportunity to do something.
Fair trade: A trading partnership that seeks greater equity in international trade.
Fair share: An equitable portion or amount.
A fair shake: A just or equal chance or opportunity.
To give someone a fair hearing: To listen impartially to someone's argument or side of a story.
To put up a fair fight: To compete bravely and evenly.
All's fair in love and war: A saying suggesting that any method is acceptable when one is trying to achieve success in love or conflict.
Fair to middling: Of average or mediocre quality; neither good nor bad.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of fair from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
