English▸ adjective
1 impartial and just, without favouritism or discrimination:
the group has achieved fair and equal representation for all its members
a fairer distribution of wealth
the elections were judged to have been free and fair.
▪ just or appropriate in the circumstances:
to be fair, this subject poses special problems
it's not fair to take it out on her.
▪ archaic (of a means or procedure) not violent:
try first by fair means.
2 (of hair or complexion) light; blonde:
a pretty girl with long fair hair.
▪ (of a person) having a light complexion or hair:
he's very fair with blue eyes.
3 considerable though not outstanding in size or amount:
he did a fair bit of coaching.
▪ moderately good:
he believes he has a fair chance of success.
▪ Australian and New Zealand English informal complete; utter:
this cow is a fair swine.
4 (of weather) fine and dry:
a fair autumn day.
▪ (of the wind) favourable:
they set sail with a fair wind.
5 archaic beautiful:
the fairest of her daughters.
▪ (of words) specious despite being initially attractive:
the Sophists have plenty of brave words and fair devices.
– PHRASES
all's fair in love and war proverb
in certain highly charged situations, any method of achieving your objective is justifiable.
in certain highly charged situations, any method of achieving your objective is justifiable.
by fair means or foul
using whatever means are necessary:
using whatever means are necessary:
they were determined to win, by fair means or foul.
fair comment
a comment or criticism made without malicious intent and based on accurate information or observation:
a comment or criticism made without malicious intent and based on accurate information or observation:
his statement is a fair comment based on observation
He notes that the definition changed in the second and subsequent editions. Fair comment.
▪ Law
the right to make a comment or criticism without malicious intent if it is based on accurate information:
the right to make a comment or criticism without malicious intent if it is based on accurate information:
his defence pleads justification and fair comment.
a fair cow Australian English informal
a particularly unpleasant or difficult situation or thing:
a particularly unpleasant or difficult situation or thing:
this heat's a fair cow.
fair dos British English informal
used to request just treatment or accept that it has been given:
used to request just treatment or accept that it has been given:
fair dos—you don't believe I've been idle all this time?.
fair enough /ˌfɛːr ɪˈnʌf 
/ informal
used to admit that something is reasonable or acceptable:
used to admit that something is reasonable or acceptable:
‘I can't come because I'm working late.’ ‘Fair enough.’.
fair go /ˌfɛː ˈɡəʊ / Australian and New Zealand English informal
used for emphasis or to request someone to be reasonable or fair:
used for emphasis or to request someone to be reasonable or fair:
Fair go! How can I ask a thing like that?.
fair's fair informal
used to request just treatment or assert that a situation is just:
used to request just treatment or assert that a situation is just:
Fair's fair—we were here first.
fair to middling
slightly above average:
slightly above average:
she manages to capitalize on some fair-to-middling material.
in a fair way to do something
likely to achieve something:
likely to achieve something:
you are in a fair way to have cured yourself.
it's a fair cop British English informal
an admission that the speaker has been caught doing wrong and deserves punishment:
an admission that the speaker has been caught doing wrong and deserves punishment:
As for my parking ticket, it was a fair cop, alas! I got the timing wrong.
– ORIGIN Old English fæger ‘pleasing, attractive’, of Germanic origin; related to Old High German fagar.