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fair

fair

328 1.0
Average in quality or amount, neither very good nor bad
  • adjective
  • /fɛr/
: regular
  • I think there's a fair amount of truth to it.
  • a fair amount
  • a fair share
  • in fair health

The moment when we say, damn, a fair amount of people really suck.

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Examples

  • Yellowknife alone attracted 47 percent of visitors, a fair proportion of whom were probably business travelers.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Then after that, I expect you to pay your fair share of the rent, okay?

  • So this is a little bit more fair and it's not great.

  • Yeah, um, it's always a fair question. Um, I think this was,

  • Just give our way of living a fair chance.

  • Students need to be involved in a fair amount of individual and group work.

    Academic text (2011)
  • We are at the point of knowing a fair amount about what we don't know.

    Academic text (1992)
  • That's a fair price.

  • Students need to complete a fair amount of reading for the class assignments.

  • The committee decided that a fair amount of time should be allocated to each speaker.

Synonyms

fine
vsfair
∞ 1.0

In good enough condition so no one needs to worry

is a more neutral average assessment rather than this slightly positive approval
okay
vsfair
∞ 1.0

Good enough but not very good

is a straightforward neutral evaluation rather than this informal approval tone
average
vsfair
∞ 1.0

Ordinary and not very good

is the same moderate idea but used more in evaluation than description
decent
vsfair
526 2.3

Good enough in quality to meet normal needs

is the ordinary moderate judgment rather than this somewhat positive adequacy
adequate
vsfair
204 2.7

Enough in amount or quality to meet a need

is a general average judgment rather than stressing sufficiency for a need
reasonable
vsfair
179 2.2

A moderate amount or size that is not extreme

is the plain quality judgment rather than focusing on excess or limits
mediocre
vsfair
94 4.8

Only average in quality and not very good

is the neutral middle position rather than a clearly poor judgment
satisfactory
vsfair
73 2.3

Good enough to meet a need but not very good

is the neutral average idea rather than emphasizing meeting demands
middling
vsfair
10 4.6

Having average quality, neither very good nor very bad

is the common neutral notion rather than this slightly old-fashioned label
indifferent
vsfair
5 4.4

Only average and not very good

is the neutral average sense rather than this slightly negative view
fair to middling
vsfair
  • Archaic
1 6.9

Medium quality, neither very good nor very bad

is the general moderate sense rather than this idiomatic phrase
fairish
vsfair
1 6.1

Reasonably good but not great

is the neutral average idea rather than a mild informal shade

Antonyms

555 1.0

Not good enough in quality or amount

12 4.5

Not as good as people expect

Idioms

fair and square
  • Informal
37 3.3

In a just and honest way that follows the rules

the fair sex
  • Archaic
5 9.9

Women that older writers treat as delicate and needing protection

1 6.9

Medium quality, neither very good nor very bad

stern but fair
  • Informal
1 4.6

Strict and just when dealing with people

Demanding that people follow rules while treating everyone the same

A fair chance to take part or succeed

An even chance for everyone to take part

9.9

An equal chance to take part or benefit

To ask for everyone to have an equal chance

An equal chance to be treated the same as others

Compounds

53 5.2

An easy target for people to criticize or attack

Vanity Fair
  • Literature
43 2.8

A magazine about celebrity news, fashion, and current events

23 3.2

A way of buying and selling that gives better pay and rights to farmers and workers

22 3.0

Honest behavior that treats everyone the same and follows the rules in sport or competition

fair use
  • Specialized
17 3.9

The right to use small parts of someone else's work without permission for teaching, news, or criticism

fair shake
  • Informal
17 6.0

An equal chance to succeed and be treated the same as others

14 2.4

A good but not certain chance of success

fair hearing
  • Formal
14 5.3

A chance to tell your side to a court or official before a decision

13 2.8

Treatment that is just and equal for everyone

11 3.0

An event where people sell handmade things like jewelry and pottery

9 1.3

Nice dry conditions good for outdoor activities

8 1.2

An event where books are shown and sold to encourage reading

fair sex
  • Archaic
5 9.9

An old polite phrase for women that shows admiration

4 2.3

A yearly event with rides, food, and games

2 5.6

A person who helps only when things are good and leaves during problems

A person other people like more and treat better

A situation where everyone has an equal chance and no one has unfair advantages

fair ball
  • Specialized
2 3.9

A ball hit by the batter that lands between the foul lines and is in play

vanity fair
  • Literature
2 9.9

A social world where people focus on appearance and money

fair-weather fan
  • Informal
1 7.4

A person who supports a team only when it is winning

Light skin that often burns easily in the sun

fair catch
  • Specialized
1 7.0

A player signals and catches a punt without running and cannot be tackled

fair-trade agreement
  • Specialized
1 5.7

A deal where a maker tells stores not to sell a branded product below a fixed price

1 5.2

Part of a baseball field between the first and third base lines where a hit ball is in play

fair copy
  • Specialized
1 6.2

A clean final version of a document with all corrections

fair do
  • UK
1 9.9

It is right to give someone credit for what they did

1 7.8

Former US law that let manufacturers require shops to sell goods at a minimum price

A small European plant with a circle of low leaves and clusters of white star-shaped flowers

How Good

excellent
∞ 1.0
good
∞ 1.0
fair
328 1.0
mediocre
94 4.8
poor
555 1.0

Surface Forms

fair positive
fairer comparative
fairest superlative

Etymology

Fair meaning 'moderate' or 'reasonable' grew from the idea of something being 'proper' or 'satisfactory', so calling an amount or quality 'fair' means it is neither very good nor very bad but 'reasonable'.