fair Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a traveling show; having sideshows and rides and games of skill etc.
    funfair; carnival.
  2. noun gathering of producers to promote business
    • world fair
    • trade fair
    • book fair
  3. noun a competitive exhibition of farm products
    • she won a blue ribbon for her baking at the county fair
  4. noun a sale of miscellany; often for charity
    bazaar.
    • the church bazaar
  5. verb join so that the external surfaces blend smoothly
  6. adjective free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
    just.
    • a fair referee
    • fair deal
    • on a fair footing
    • a fair fight
    • by fair means or foul
  7. adjective satellite not excessive or extreme
    reasonable; fairish.
    • a fairish income
    • reasonable prices
  8. adjective satellite very pleasing to the eye
    sightly; comely; bonnie; bonny.
    • my bonny lass
    • there's a bonny bay beyond
    • a comely face
    • young fair maidens
  9. adjective (of a baseball) hit between the foul lines
    • he hit a fair ball over the third base bag
  10. adjective satellite lacking exceptional quality or ability
    middling; average; mediocre.
    • a novel of average merit
    • only a fair performance of the sonata
    • in fair health
    • the caliber of the students has gone from mediocre to above average
    • the performance was middling at best
  11. adjective satellite attractively feminine
    • the fair sex
  12. adjective satellite (of a manuscript) having few alterations or corrections
    clean.
    • fair copy
    • a clean manuscript
  13. adjective satellite gained or earned without cheating or stealing
    honest.
    • an honest wage
    • an fair penny
  14. adjective satellite free of clouds or rain
    • today will be fair and warm
  15. adjective satellite (used of hair or skin) pale or light-colored;
    fairish.
    • a fair complexion
  16. adverb in conformity with the rules or laws and without fraud or cheating
    fairly; clean.
    • they played fairly
  17. adverb without favoring one party, in a fair evenhanded manner
    fairly; evenhandedly.
    • deal fairly with one another

WordNet

Fair adjective
Etymology
OE. fair, fayer, fager, AS. fæger; akin to OS. & OHG. fagar, Isel. fagr, Sw. fager, Dan. faver, Goth. fagrs fit, also to E. fay, G. fügen, to fit. fegen to sweep, cleanse, and prob. also to E. fang, peace, pact, Cf. Fang, Fain, Fay to fit.
Wordforms
comparative Fairer ; superlative Fairest
Definitions
  1. Free from spots, specks, dirt, or imperfection; unblemished; clean; pure.
    A fair white linen cloth. Book of Common Prayer.
  2. Pleasing to the eye; handsome; beautiful.
    Who can not see many a fair French city, for one fair French made. Shak.
  3. Without a dark hue; light; clear; as, a fair skin.
    The northern people large and fair-complexioned. Sir M. Hale.
  4. Not overcast; cloudless; clear; pleasant; propitious; favorable; -- said of the sky, weather, or wind, etc.; as, a fair sky; a fair day.
    You wish fair winds may waft him over. Prior.
  5. Free from obstacles or hindrances; unobstructed; unincumbered; open; direct; -- said of a road, passage, etc.; as, a fair mark; in fair sight; a fair view.
    The caliphs obtained a mighty empire, which was in a fair way to have enlarged. Sir W. Raleigh.
  6. (Shipbuilding) Without sudden change of direction or curvature; smooth; fowing; -- said of the figure of a vessel, and of surfaces, water lines, and other lines.
  7. Characterized by frankness, honesty, impartiality, or candor; open; upright; free from suspicion or bias; equitable; just; -- said of persons, character, or conduct; as, a fair man; fair dealing; a fair statement. "I would call it fair play." Shak.
  8. Pleasing; favorable; inspiring hope and confidence; -- said of words, promises, etc.
    When fair words and good counsel will not prevail on us, we must be frighted into our duty. L' Estrange.
  9. Distinct; legible; as, fair handwriting.
  10. Free from any marked characteristic; average; middling; as, a fair specimen.
    The news is very fair and good, my lord. Shak.
    Syn. -- Candid; open; frank; ingenuous; clear; honest; equitable; impartial; reasonable. See Candid.
Fair adverb
Definitions
  1. Clearly; openly; frankly; civilly; honestly; favorably; auspiciously; agreeably.
Fair noun
Definitions
  1. Fairness, beauty. Obs. Shak.
  2. A fair woman; a sweetheart.
    I have found out a gift for my fair. Shenstone.
  3. Good fortune; good luck.
    Now fair befall thee ! Shak.
    Shak.
Fair transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To make fair or beautiful. Obs.
    Fairing the foul. Shak.
  2. (Shipbuilding) To make smooth and flowing, as a vessel's lines.
Fair noun
Etymology
OE. feire, OF. feire, F. foire, fr. L. fariae, pl., days of rest, holidays, festivals, akin to festus festal. See Feast.
Definitions
  1. A gathering of buyers and sellers, assembled at a particular place with their merchandise at a stated or regular season, or by special appointment, for trade.
  2. A festival, and sale of fancy articles. erc., usually for some charitable object; as, a Grand Army fair.
  3. A competitive exhibition of wares, farm products, etc., not primarily for purposes of sale; as, the Mechanics' fair; an agricultural fair.

Webster 1913