Word
fairness
Phoneticsfair·ness, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈfɛɹnəs/
UK/fˈeənəs/
Definitions
01justice and equality
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. treating everyone in a way that is right, equal, and follows the rules.
n. the quality of being reasonable, right, and free from discrimination or bias.
“The teacher showed fairness by giving every student the same amount of time for the test.”
“The legal system must ensure fairness in every trial, regardless of the defendant's social standing or financial resources.”
Usage
often used with the preposition 'in' regarding a specific context.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02beauty
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Literary · Archaic
n. the quality of being beautiful or having a pleasing appearance.
n. physical beauty or attractiveness; often used in historical or poetic contexts to describe a person's appearance.
“The poet wrote many verses about the lady's great fairness and kind heart.”
“In the old legends, the princess was renowned throughout the kingdom for her extraordinary fairness and grace.”
Usage
almost exclusively found in pre-20th century literature or poetry.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “fairness” in context.
Verb
01. ensure fairness
“The new regulations were introduced to ensure fairness in the recruitment process.”
verb + noun
02. question the fairness of the decision
“Many legal experts began to question the fairness of the decision after new evidence emerged.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
03. uphold fairness
“The judge emphasized the court's duty to uphold fairness and the rule of law.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. fundamental fairness
“The policy was criticized for violating the principle of fundamental fairness.”
adj + noun
05. procedural fairness
“The tribunal focused on procedural fairness rather than the final outcome of the case.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. sense of fairness
“Even young children have an innate sense of fairness when sharing toys.”
noun + of + noun
07. standard of fairness
“The committee established a rigorous standard of fairness for all future competitions.”
noun + of + noun
Preposition
08. in all fairness
“In all fairness, she did warn us that the project would take longer than expected.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“Osterman is a longtime labor economist and author of several previous books whose work has often focused on job quality and labor-market fairness.” “It can contribute to chronic stress and burnout and influence how couples perceive fairness within their relationships.” Etymology
From Middle English fairness, fæȝernesse, from Old English fæġernes (“fairness; beauty; pleasantness”), equivalent to fair + -ness. Cognate with Old High German fagarnessi (“fairness”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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