Meaning and usage of the word fair in English

Meaning of vocabulary fair

fairadjective

hợp lý, công bằng, thuận lợi

/fɛː/

Meaning of vocabulary <b>fair</b></b>

Origin of the word fair

The word "fair" originated in Old English as "féorh," which meant "beauty, goodness, or justice." It evolved from the Proto-Germanic word "*ferthiz," which was also related to the Proto-Indo-European root "*pher-ti," meaning "to shine" or "to be bright." In Middle English (circa 1100-1500 CE), "fair" took on additional meanings, including "beautiful, attractive" and "just, righteous" (as in "a fair action"). The word also became synonymous with "equal" or "reasonable" in matters such as trade and commerce (e.g., "a fair price"). Today, the word "fair" encompasses a range of meanings, including fairness, justice, beauty, and even weather (e.g., "the fair weather held"). Its etymology reveals a complex and multi-layered history, reflecting the evolving nature of human language and cognition.

Vocabulary summary fair

typenoun

meaningfair

exampleto play fair

exampleto fight fair: fight by the rules, fight according to the law (boxing...)

examplefair play: fair play (in a match); (figuratively) fair dealing, upright conduct

meaningVanity Fair

exampleto fall fair: fall on, fall flat, fall flat (into...)

exampleto strike fair in the face

typeadjective

meaningright, correct, reasonable, impartial, fair, upright, straightforward, without cheating

exampleto play fair

exampleto fight fair: fight by the rules, fight according to the law (boxing...)

examplefair play: fair play (in a match); (figuratively) fair dealing, upright conduct

meaningquite good, quite promising; favorable, smooth

exampleto fall fair: fall on, fall flat, fall flat (into...)

exampleto strike fair in the face

meaningPretty

exampleto speak someone fair

Example of vocabulary fairacceptable/appropriate

meaning

acceptable and appropriate in a particular situation

  • a fair deal/wage/price
  • The punishment was very fair.
  • In the end, a draw was a fair result.
  • I give you fair warning, I’m not always this generous.
  • We wanted to resolve this matter in a way that would be fair to her.

Example of vocabulary fairtreating people equally

meaning

treating everyone equally and according to the rules or law

  • She has always been scrupulously fair.
  • They are fair and decent employers.
  • demands for a fairer distribution of wealth
  • his vision of a fairer, kinder society
  • The new tax is fairer than the old system.

Example of vocabulary fairhair/skin

meaning

pale in colour

  • a fair complexion
  • Kate had dark hair and fair skin.
  • She has long fair hair.
  • All her children are fair (= they all have fair hair).

Example of vocabulary fairquite large

meaning

quite large in number, size or amount

  • A fair number of people came along.
  • There's been a fair amount of research on this topic.
  • a fair-sized town
  • We've still got a fair bit (= quite a lot) to do.
  • My birthday’s still a fair way off (= it’s still a long time until my birthday).

Example of vocabulary fairquite good

meaning

quite good

  • There's a fair chance that we might win this time.
  • It's a fair bet that they won't turn up.
  • I have a fair idea of what happened.
  • His knowledge of French is only fair.
  • Scoring twenty points was a fair achievement.

Example of vocabulary fairweather

meaning

bright and not raining

  • It was a fair and breezy day.
  • The day was set fair with the spring sun shining down.
meaning

not too strong and blowing in the right direction

  • They set sail with the first fair wind.

Example of vocabulary fairbeautiful

meaning

beautiful

  • a fair maiden

Words, synonyms, related vocabulary fair

Idioms of vocabulary fair

all’s fair in love and war
(saying)in some situations any type of behaviour is acceptable to get what you want
    be fair!
    (informal)used to tell somebody to be reasonable in their judgement of somebody/something
    • Be fair! She didn't know you were coming.
    by fair means or foul
    using dishonest methods if honest ones do not work
    • She’s determined to win, by fair means or foul.
    a fair crack of the whip
    (British English, informal)a reasonable opportunity to show that you can do something
    • I felt we weren't given a fair crack of the whip.
    fair enough
    (informal, especially British English)used to say that an idea or suggestion seems reasonable
    • ‘We'll meet at 8.’ ‘Fair enough.’
    • If you don't want to come, fair enough, but let Bill know.
    a fair few
    a fairly large number
    • I've been there a fair few times.
    fair go
    (Australian English, New Zealand English, informal)used to ask somebody to be reasonable
    • I just wanted to say, ‘Hey mate, fair go!’
    (give somebody) a fair hearing
    (to allow somebody) the opportunity to give their opinion of something before deciding if they have done something wrong, often in court
    • I'll see that you get a fair hearing.
    fair’s fair
    used to ask for fair treatment or to claim that a situation is fair
    • Fair's fair—we were here first.
    • Fair's fair—you can't expect them to cancel everything just because you can't make it.
    • Come on, fair's fair—you’ve had your chance, now let me try.
    (give somebody/get) a fair shake
    (informal)(to give somebody/get) fair treatment that gives you the same chance as somebody else
    • Are minority students getting a fair shake at college?
    • We need a government that cares about equity and a fair go for all.
    (more than) your fair share of something
    (more than) an amount of something that is considered to be reasonable or acceptable
    • He has more than his fair share of problems.
    • I've had my fair share of success in the past.
    fair to middling
    not particularly good or bad
    • ‘How are you feeling today?’ ‘Oh, fair to middling.’
    it’s a fair cop
    (British English, informal, humorous)used by somebody who is caught doing something wrong, to say that they admit that they are wrong

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