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fair hearing

fair hearing

12 5.3
A chance to tell your side to a court or official before a decision
  • noun
  • /fɛr ˈhɪrɪŋ/
  • Formal
translation icon : audiencia imparcial
  • To fulfill the revolution's promise, the new Assembly had to make decisions based on a fair hearing of members' opinions.
  • get a fair hearing
  • give them a fair hearing

Examples

  • When you were my guest at the Tangiers Hotel, did you not promise me a fair hearing?

  • Also, he has enough experience that I think he deserves a fair hearing.

    Blog text (20)
  • - All I ask is a fair hearing.

  • It's my duty to see that he gets a fair hearing.

  • I demand a fair hearing.

  • "Do you think your client will get a fair hearing out there?"

    Fiction book (1999)
  • We certainly want to give you a fair hearing in this courtroom.

  • Students deserve a fair hearing if they feel their assigned grade was reached in error.

    Academic text (2011)
  • He deserved a fair hearing, but he knew this would not happen, not in this city.

  • In a legal dispute, everyone deserves a fair hearing to ensure justice is served.

Synonyms

due process
vsfair hearing
  • Formal
99 4.0

Fair legal steps that follow rules and protect people from unfair loss of freedom or property

is a single proceeding focused on allowing presentation of a case before decision
right to due process
vsfair hearing
  • Formal
3 4.8

Fair treatment in court and under the law

is a specific proceeding giving an impartial chance when courts are not immediately available

Surface Forms

fair hearing singular
fair hearings plural

Morphology

fair + hearing

The noun phrase combines 'fair' (impartial/equitable) with 'hearing' (an official session where views are heard), so its meaning — an impartial opportunity to present a case — is directly derivable from the parts. This adjective + noun composition is a common, cross-linguistic pattern and does not require idiomatic knowledge, so a B1 learner who knows both words should understand it.

Etymology

Fair hearing combines fair (meaning 'just') and hearing (meaning 'a time to speak while others listen'). It creates the picture of a judge who does not take sides and listens to both people, so fair hearing means 'a fair chance to tell your side'.