fairness

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   The quality of treating people equally and reasonably, without favoring anyone or letting personal feelings decide.

   Grammar: Never used in the plural: the judge's fairness.

   Patterns

   • fairness to someone
   • in fairness

   Children are quick to notice a lack of fairness.

   The referee was praised for his fairness.

   The system must ensure fairness for all applicants.

2. 2noununcountableold-fashionedliterary

   The state of having light skin or hair, used in older writing.

   Grammar: Usually describes appearance: the fairness of her hair.

   Patterns

   • the fairness of something

   The poet praised the fairness of her complexion.

   The fairness of his hair stood out in the crowd.

   The novel mentions her fairness often.

3. 3noununcountable

   Reasonableness in a judgment, as when a decision or rule is balanced and acceptable.

   Grammar: Often used in the phrase in all fairness: in all fairness, she tried.

   Patterns

   • in all fairness
   • in fairness to someone

   In all fairness, he did apologize.

   The fairness of the contract was questioned.

   She doubted the fairness of the exam.

Common combinations

in all fairness

In all fairness, the delay was not her fault.

ensure fairness

Rules ensure fairness in the competition.

sense of fairness

He has a strong sense of fairness.

fairness and equality

The law promotes fairness and equality.

question the fairness

Parents questioned the fairness of the test.

Synonyms and how they differ

impartiality

Impartiality is about not taking sides, while fairness covers a wider idea of treating everyone properly.

justice

Justice is wider and involves law and moral right, while fairness is often used in everyday situations.

equity

Equity is a formal term that means giving each person what they need, whereas fairness is general.

evenhandedness

Evenhandedness stresses treating each side the same way.

Opposites

Word family

fair adjective

treating people equally and reasonably

fairly adverb

in a reasonable way

unfair adjective

not treating people equally

unfairness noun

lack of fairness

Commonly confused: fairness or fare?

Practice

Make it your own

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

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