# fair

/ˈfɛɹ/ (US) · /fˈeə/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fair
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. just and right

adjective · CEFR A2

treating everyone in the same way or following the rules.

For teachers: treating people equally without favouritism or discrimination; in accordance with established rules.

- The teacher was fair and gave every student the same amount of time.
- The judge was praised for his fair handling of the case, ensuring that both the plaintiff and the defendant were heard equally.

### 2. light in color

adjective · CEFR A2

having pale skin or light-colored hair, like blonde or red.

For teachers: referring to a pale complexion or light-colored hair, specifically blonde or light brown.

- She has very fair skin that burns easily in the summer sun.
- The portrait depicted a young woman with fair hair and striking blue eyes, contrasting sharply with the dark background.

### 3. average or okay

adjective · CEFR B1

quite good, but not excellent or great.

For teachers: moderately good; satisfactory but not exceptional in quality or quantity.

- He has a fair chance of winning the race if he stays focused.
- The student's performance in the first semester was fair, though her tutors expected more rigorous engagement with the primary texts.

### 4. beautiful

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary · Archaic

very beautiful or pretty to look at.

For teachers: possessing a beautiful or pleasing appearance; often used in literature or older stories.

- The prince traveled across the land to find a fair maiden.
- The poet spent many verses describing the fair landscape of his childhood home, mourning its loss to industrialisation.

### 5. pleasant weather

adjective · CEFR B2

describing weather that is clear, sunny, and not stormy.

For teachers: referring to weather conditions that are clear and sunny; in nautical contexts, favorable to a ship's course.

- We hope for fair weather for our outdoor wedding this Saturday.
- The captain waited for a fair wind before ordering the crew to weigh anchor and begin the long voyage across the Atlantic.

### 6. entertainment event

noun · CEFR A2

a public event with games, rides, and food for fun.

For teachers: a travelling amusement park or local festival featuring rides, games, and entertainment.

- The kids were excited to ride the carousel at the county fair.
- Every summer, the village green is transformed into a bustling fair with stalls selling local produce and traditional mechanical rides.

### 7. trade exhibition

noun · CEFR B1

a large event where companies show their new products to customers.

For teachers: a large-scale exhibition where businesses in a particular industry promote their products and services.

- Our company is renting a booth at the international book fair.
- The annual technology fair attracts thousands of developers eager to witness the unveiling of the latest software innovations.

### 8. honestly or clearly

adverb · CEFR B1

in a way that is honest or follows the rules.

For teachers: in a just or equitable manner; often used in the phrase 'play fair'.

- You have to play fair if you want people to keep playing with you.
- The negotiator insisted that both parties act fair and square to reach a sustainable agreement.

### 9. to smooth a surface

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to make a surface smooth or even, especially where two parts join.

For teachers: to smooth or even a surface to reduce drag or improve the aesthetic connection between two parts.

- The worker had to fair the edges of the boat's hull.
- The engineer instructed the team to fair the joints of the aircraft wing to minimize aerodynamic resistance during high-speed flight.

## Examples

- We spent the whole afternoon at the county fair.
- Local farmers brought their best livestock to the agricultural fair to compete for the blue ribbon.
- The international book fair serves as a vital hub for publishers to negotiate translation rights and showcase their upcoming seasonal catalogues to global distributors.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.