fair ◆◆◇ /feə r / (fairer , fairest , fairs )
1 ADJ 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. □ He claims that he would not get a fair trial. ● fair|ly ADV [usu ADV after v, oft ADV -ed] □ …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.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] 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.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] 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.
4 ADJ 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.
5 ADJ 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. ● COMB Fair is also a combining form. □ …a tall, fair-haired Englishman.
6 ADJ Fair skin is very pale and usually burns easily. □ It's important to protect my fair skin from the sun. ● COMB Fair is also a combining form. □ Fair-skinned people shouldn't spend a great deal of time in the sun.
7 ADJ When the weather is fair , it is quite sunny and not raining. [FORMAL ] □ Weather conditions were fair.
8 N‑COUNT [usu n N ] A county, state, or country fair is an event where there are, for example, displays of goods and animals, and amusements, games, and competitions.
9 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] A fair is an event at which people display and sell goods, especially goods of a particular type. □ …an antiques fair.
10 → see also craft fair , trade fair
11 PHRASE 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.
12 PHRASE 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.
13 PHRASE 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.
fai r ga me N‑UNCOUNT If you say that someone is fair game , you mean that it is acceptable to criticize or attack them, usually because of the way that they behave. □ Politicians were always considered fair game by cartoonists.
fair|ground /feə r graʊnd/ (fairgrounds ) N‑COUNT A fairground is an area of land where a fair is held.
fair|ly ◆◇◇ /feə r li/
1 ADV [ADV adj/adv] Fairly means to quite a large degree. For example, if you say that something is fairly old, you mean that it is old but not very old. □ Both ships are fairly new. □ We did fairly well but only fairly well.
2 ADV [ADV adj/adv] You use fairly instead of 'very' to add emphasis to an adjective or adverb without making it sound too forceful. [VAGUENESS ] □ Were you always fairly bright at school? □ I'll have no income and no home and will need a job fairly badly.
3 → see also fair SYNONYMS fairly ADV 1
moderately: …a moderately attractive woman.
rather: I grew up in rather unusual circumstances.
somewhat: He concluded that Oswald was somewhat abnormal.
reasonably: She was reasonably sure that he had tonsillitis.
fai r-mi nded ADJ A fair-minded person always tries to be fair and reasonable, and always listens to other people's opinions. □ She is one of the most fair-minded people I know.
fair|ness /feə r nəs/ N‑UNCOUNT Fairness is the quality of being reasonable, right, and just. □ …concern about the fairness of the election campaign.
fai r pla y N‑UNCOUNT If you refer to someone's attitude or behaviour as fair play , you approve of it because it shows respect and sympathy towards everyone, even towards people who are thought to be wrong or to deserve punishment. [APPROVAL ] □ The legal system is unmatched for its justice and sense of fair play.
fai r se x also fairer sex N‑SING If a man talks about the fair sex , he is referring to women in general. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
fai r tra de N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Fair trade is the practice of buying goods directly from producers in developing countries at a fair price. □ …fair trade coffee.
fair|way /feə r we I / (fairways ) N‑COUNT The fairway on a golf course is the long strip of short grass between each tee and green.
fai r-weather ADJ [ADJ n] You use fair-weather to refer to someone who offers help to someone, or who takes part in a particular activity, only when it is easy or pleasant for them to do so. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …a fair-weather friend.
fairy /feə ri/ (fairies )
1 N‑COUNT A fairy is an imaginary creature with magical powers. Fairies are often represented as small people with wings.