(fairer, fairest, fairs)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
Something or someone that is fair is reasonable, right, and just.
It didn't seem fair to leave out her father...
Do you feel they're paying their fair share?...
Independent observers say the campaign's been very much fairer than expected...
An appeals court had ruled that they could not get a fair trial in Los Angeles.
ADJ: oft it v-link ADJ to-inf
• fairly
...demonstrating concern for employees and solving their problems quickly and fairly...
In a society where water was precious, it had to be shared fairly between individuals.
ADV: usu ADV after v, also ADV -ed
2.
A fair amount, degree, size, or distance is quite a large amount, degree, size, or distance.
My neighbours across the street travel a fair amount...
My mother's brother lives a fair distance away so we don't see him and his family very often.
ADJ: ADJ n
3.
A fair guess or idea about something is one that is likely to be correct.
It's a fair guess to say that the damage will be extensive...
I have a fair idea of how difficult things can be.
= reasonable
ADJ: ADJ n
4.
If you describe someone or something as fair, you mean that they are average in standard or quality, neither very good nor very bad.
Reimar had a fair command of English.
= adequate
ADJ
5.
Someone who is fair, or who has fair hair, has light-coloured hair.
Both children were very like Robina, but were much fairer than she was.
ADJ
•
Fair is also a combining form.
...a tall, fair-haired Englishman.
COMB in ADJ
6.
Fair skin is very pale and usually burns easily.
It's important to protect my fair skin from the sun.
ADJ
•
Fair is also a combining form.
Fair-skinned people who spend a great deal of time in the sun have the greatest risk of skin cancer.
COMB in ADJ
7.
When the weather is fair, it is quite sunny and not raining. (FORMAL)
Weather conditions were fair.
= fine
ADJ
8.
A county, state, or country fair is an event where there are, for example, displays of goods and animals, and amusements, games, and competitions.
N-COUNT: usu n N
9.
A fair is an event at which people display and sell goods, especially goods of a particular type.
...an antiques fair.
N-COUNT: oft n N
10.
You use fair enough when you want to say that a statement, decision, or action seems reasonable to a certain extent, but that perhaps there is more to be said or done. (mainly SPOKEN)
If you don't like it, fair enough, but that's hardly a justification to attack the whole thing...
PHRASE: PHR with cl
11.
If you say that someone plays fair, you mean that they behave or act in a reasonable and honest way.
The government is not playing fair, one union official told me.
PHRASE: V inflects
12.
If you say that someone won a competition fair and square, you mean that they won honestly and without cheating.
There are no excuses. We were beaten fair and square.
PHRASE: PHR after v