fair treatment

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   the act of dealing with someone in a reasonable and equal way

   Grammar: No plural: fair treatment, not fair treatments. Often followed by of or for.

   Patterns

   • fair treatment of someone
   • fair treatment for someone
   • get fair treatment
   • receive fair treatment

   All employees deserve fair treatment at work.

   The report called for fair treatment of refugees.

   She complained that she had not received fair treatment.

2. 2noununcountable

   the correct and equal handling of a problem or situation according to the rules

   Grammar: Used about systems, laws, or processes, not only people.

   Patterns

   • fair treatment of a case
   • fair treatment under the law

   The judge promised fair treatment of every case.

   They asked for fair treatment under the new rules.

Common combinations

deserve fair treatment

Everyone deserves fair treatment, whatever their background.

fair treatment of workers

The union is fighting for fair treatment of workers.

receive fair treatment

Patients should receive fair treatment in every hospital.

fair treatment for all

The campaign demands fair treatment for all citizens.

Synonyms and how they differ

justice

Justice is a wider idea about what is right and lawful; fair treatment is about how someone is actually dealt with.

equality

Equality means everyone is treated the same; fair treatment can allow for different needs.

impartiality

Impartiality means not favoring one side; it is more formal and often used about judges.

Opposites

Word family

treat verb

to behave toward someone in a particular way

treatment noun

the way someone or something is dealt with

fairly adverb

in a way that is reasonable and equal

Commonly confused: fair treatment or fair trial?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “fair treatment”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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