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fair

fair

191 1.0
Pleasant to look at, often with light hair or skin
  • adjective
  • /fɛr/
translation icon : bonito
  • These Vikings were tall like palm trees, fair skinned, fair haired and healthy in colour.
  • fair skin
  • a fair complexion
  • the fair sex

These Vikings were tall like palm trees, fair skinned, fair haired and healthy in colour.

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Examples

  • For reference, I am fair with like dark blonde hair.

  • This is a good bronzer for fair to medium skin tones.

  • With fair hair, blue eyes, lost at age 8 when civil war broke out in the Far East?

  • In spite of his dark, almost black, hair, his skin was fair, so the blushes really showed.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Getting up hurriedly, I put on something warm and found the fair-skinned visitors outside.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The epithets used to describe Helen include fair haired, fair cheeked and white armed.

  • Her fair complexion made her stand out amongst her friends.

  • He has always been complimented for his fair hair and bright smile.

  • Many people prefer foundations that suit fair skin tones.

Synonyms

pretty
vsfair
1.0

Nice to look at in a gentle, simple way

is broader and also covers light hair or pale skin as appearance
good-looking
vsfair
278 1.2

Having a nice face or body that people find attractive

is more general and can include hair or skin color meanings
fine-looking
vsfair
21 2.0

Having an attractive appearance

is the general term used for any pleasing appearance
comely
vsfair
  • Archaic
5 7.4

Pleasant to look at in a simple, natural way

is more neutral and can also note light hair or skin color
bonny
vsfair
  • UK
3 7.0

Looking attractive and lively in a healthy way

is more general and does not stress liveliness or health
light-haired
vsfair
1 2.6

Having pale hair like blond or light brown

can mean pleasing appearance as well as pale hair or skin
sightly
vsfair
7.1

Pleasant to look at

is broader and also applies to hair or skin tone meanings
bonnie
vsfair
  • UK
9.0

Pretty to look at

is the widely used neutral adjective rather than regional usage
fairish
vsfair
6.8

A little light in color, like pale hair or skin

also covers general attractiveness as well as pale hair or skin

Antonyms

866 1.0

Not pleasant to look at

37 1.8

Not pleasant to look at or to the senses

Idioms

fair and square
  • Informal
34 3.3

In a just and honest way that follows the rules

1 6.9

Medium quality, neither very good nor very bad

the fair sex
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Women that older writers treat as delicate and needing protection

stern but fair
  • Informal
1 4.6

Strict and just when dealing with people

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

Demanding that people follow rules while treating everyone the same

Compounds

144 3.0

An event where people sell handmade things like jewelry and pottery

39 5.2

An easy target for people to criticize or attack

Vanity Fair
  • Literature
31 2.8

A magazine about celebrity news, fashion, and current events

16 3.0

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

fair shake
  • Informal
16 6.0

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

fair hearing
  • Formal
12 5.3

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

12 2.4

A good but not certain chance of success

fair use
  • Specialized
12 3.9

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

11 3.2

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

10 2.8

Treatment that is just and equal for everyone

6 1.2

An event where books are shown and sold to encourage reading

2 5.6

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

1 1.3

Nice dry conditions good for outdoor activities

A person other people like more and treat better

fair ball
  • Specialized
1 3.9

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

fair catch
  • Specialized
1 7.0

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

Light skin that often burns easily in the sun

fair sex
  • Archaic
1 9.9

An old polite phrase for women that shows admiration

fair-weather fan
  • Informal
1 7.4

A person who supports a team only when it is winning

1 2.3

A yearly event with rides, food, and games

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

fair copy
  • Specialized
6.2

A clean final version of a document with all corrections

fair do
  • UK
9.9

It is right to give someone credit for what they did

5.2

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

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

7.8

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

fair-trade agreement
  • Specialized
5.7

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

vanity fair
  • Literature
9.9

A social world where people focus on appearance and money

How Attractive

stunning
210 3.7
beautiful
1.0
attractive
680 1.0
fair
191 1.0
ordinary
683 1.0
plain
50 2.5

Surface Forms

fair positive
fairer comparative
fairest superlative

Etymology

Fair meaning 'attractive' comes from an old word for 'beautiful', which is why 'fair' can describe someone who is pretty or who has light hair or skin.