0
fairness in the way people are dealt with
عدالت، عدل
There's no justice in the world when people can be made to suffer like that.
justice
noun (no plural)
1 treatment of people in a fair way:
the struggle for justice
opposite injustice
2 the law:
the criminal justice system
justice
jus‧tice W2 /ˈdʒʌstəs, ˈdʒʌstɪs/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin justitia, from justus; ⇨ ↑just2]
1. SYSTEM OF JUDGEMENT [uncountable] the system by which people are judged in courts of law and criminals are punished:
a book on the criminal justice system
The killers will be brought to justice (=caught and punished).
Acts of terrorism must not escape justice. ⇨ ↑miscarriage of justice
2. FAIRNESS [uncountable] fairness in the way people are treated OPP injustice:
Children have a strong sense of justice.
His people came to him demanding justice. ⇨ ↑poetic justice
3. BEING RIGHT [uncountable] the quality of being right and deserving fair treatment:
No one doubts the justice of our cause.
4. do justice to somebody/something (also do somebody/something justice) to treat or represent someone or something good, beautiful etc in a way that is as good as they deserve:
The photo doesn’t do her justice.
No words can do justice to the experience.
5. do yourself justice to do something such as a test well enough to show your real ability:
Sara panicked in the exam and didn’t do herself justice.
6. justice has been done/served used to say that someone has been treated fairly or has been given a punishment they deserve
7. JUDGE [countable] (also Justice)
a) American English a judge in a law court
b) British English the title of a judge in the High Court
⇨ rough justice at ↑rough1(16)
justice
just·ice [justice justices] [ˈdʒʌstɪs] [ˈdʒʌstɪs] noun
1. uncountable the fair treatment of people
• laws based on the principles of justice
• They are demanding equal rights and justice.
Opp: injustice
see also poetic justice, rough justice
2. uncountable the quality of being fair or reasonable
• Who can deny the justice of their cause?
• He demanded, not without justice, that he should be allowed to express his views.
Opp: injustice
3. uncountable the legal system used to punish people who have committed crimes
• the criminal justice system
• The European Court of Justice
• (BrE) They were accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
• (NAmE) They were accused of attempting to obstruct justice.
see also miscarriage of justice
4. (also Just·ice) countable (NAmE) a judge in a court (also used before the name of a judge)
see also chief justice
5. Just·ice countable (BrE, CanE) used before the name of a judge in a court of appeal
• Mr Justice Davies
more at pervert the course of justice at pervert v.
Idioms: bring somebody to justice ▪ do justice to somebody do somebody justice ▪ do yourself justice
Word Origin:
late Old English iustise ‘administration of the law’, via Old French from Latin justitia, from justus, from jus ‘law, right’.
Culture:
the legal system
In Britain, for historical reasons, the system of law used in Scotland is different from that in England and Wales, with the law in Northern Ireland similar to that in England. When making decisions Scottish courts look for an appropriate general principle and apply it to a particular situation. English law relies on case law, a collection of previous decisions, called precedents. English courts look at precedents for the case being tried and make a similar judgement. A basic principle of law in Britain is that anyone accused is innocent until proven guilty, so it is the job of the prosecution to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant (= the person accused) has broken the law as stated in the charge. If this cannot be proved the person must be acquitted (= allowed to go free, with no blame attached).
British law is divided into civil law which concerns disagreements between individuals about matters such as business contracts, and criminal law which deals with offences that involve harm to a person resulting from somebody breaking the law. In civil cases, the plaintiff (= the person who claims to have been wronged) brings an action against the defendant in the hope of winning damages (= a financial payment) or an injunction (= a court order preventing the defendant from doing something). Criminal cases are brought against criminals by the state, in England and Wales by the Director of Public Prosecutions and in Scotland through procurators fiscal.
In England and Wales most towns have a Magistrates' Court where minor cases are judged and more serious cases are passed to higher courts by three magistrates called Justices of the Peace, specially trained members of the public. The more serious cases are heard in a Crown Court by a judge and a jury. Minor civil cases, such as divorce and bankruptcy, are heard in the county courts and more serious ones in the High Court of Justice. Appeals against decisions from the Crown Court or the High Court go to the Court of Appeal and a few cases, where a question of law is in doubt, are passed to the House of Lords.
In Scotland, criminal cases are heard in District Courts by members of the public called lay justices. More serious cases go to regional sheriff courts and are heard by the sheriff and a jury. Appeals go to the High Court of Justiciary in Edinburgh. Civil cases begin in the sheriff court and may go on appeal to the Court of Session.
In the US, the judicial system is one of the three branches of the federal government, but the legal system operates at many levels with state, county and city courts as well as federal courts. The right to trial by jury is provided by the Constitution. Each type of court has its own jurisdiction, that is it deals with certain kinds of cases. Both civil and criminal cases are first heard in trial courts and there is a right to appeal against the court’s decision in a court of appeals. Many states have family courts where people get divorced and small claims courts which deal with small amounts of money. States also have trial courts, which hear a wider range of cases, and courts of appeal called superior courts or district courts. Most states have a supreme court where the most serious appeals are held. States have their own criminal code, but some crimes are federal offences, i.e. against federal law, and crimes may fall under federal jurisdiction if more than one state is involved.
Most courts have only one judge, but some higher courts have several. In the US Supreme Court, the nine judges are called justices. The people on either side of a case are represented by lawyers, also called attorneys-at-law. In a criminal trial the defendant is represented by a defense attorney, or if he or she is too poor to pay a lawyer, the court will appoint a public defender. The prosecution is led by an assistant district attorney or, in federal cases, by a federal attorney.
Thesaurus:
justice noun U
• Our laws must be based on principles of justice.
fairness • • fair play • • equality • |formal equity •
Opp: injustice
justice/fairness/fair play/equality/equity for sb
social/economic justice/fairness/equality/equity
ensure justice/fairness/fair play/equality/equity
guarantee justice/fairness/equality/equity
Collocations:
Criminal justice
Breaking the law
break/violate/obey/uphold the law
be investigated/arrested/tried for a crime/a robbery/fraud
be arrested/ (especially NAmE) indicted/convicted on charges of rape/fraud/(especially US) felony charges
be arrested on suspicion of arson/robbery/shoplifting
be accused of/be charged with murder/(especially NAmE) homicide/four counts of fraud
face two charges of indecent assault
admit your guilt/liability/responsibility (for sth)
deny the allegations/claims/charges
confess to a crime
grant/be refused/be released on/skip/jump bail
The legal process
stand/await/bring sb to/come to/be on trial
take sb to/come to/settle sth out of court
face/avoid/escape prosecution
seek/retain/have the right to/be denied access to legal counsel
hold/conduct/attend/adjourn a hearing/trial
sit on/influence/persuade/convince the jury
sit/stand/appear/be put/place sb in the dock
plead guilty/not guilty to a crime
be called to/enter (BrE) the witness box
take/put sb on the stand/(NAmE) the witness stand
call/subpoena/question/cross-examine a witness
give/hear the evidence against/on behalf of sb
raise/withdraw/overrule an objection
reach a unanimous/majority verdict
return/deliver/record a verdict of not guilty/unlawful killing/accidental death
convict/acquit the defendant of the crime
secure a conviction/your acquittal
lodge/file an appeal
appeal (against)/challenge/uphold/overturn a conviction/verdict
Sentencing and punishment
pass sentence on sb
carry/face/serve a seven-year/life sentence
receive/be given the death penalty
be sentenced to ten years (in prison/jail)
carry/impose/pay a fine (of $3 000)/a penalty (of 14 years imprisonment)
be imprisoned/jailed for drug possession/fraud/murder
do/serve time/ten years
be sent to/put sb in/be released from jail/prison
be/put sb/spend X years on death row
be granted/be denied/break (your) parole
more collocations at crime
Example Bank:
• Civilians were not subject to summary justice.
• He saw it as rough justice when he got food poisoning from the stolen meat.
• He spent twenty years in prison as a result of a miscarriage of justice.
• Justice must be done in every case.
• Maybe there's a sort of poetic justice to it.
• Restorative justice can only work when all parties agree.
• She was charged with perverting the course of justice after admitting to burning vital evidence.
• So far the robbers have escaped justice.
• Some people saw the epidemic as divine justice.
• Somebody out there needs to make sure justice is served.
• The teacher's system of punishments appealed to the children's sense of justice.
• They saw the reform proposals as a way to promote social justice.
• They were accused of attempting to obstruct justice.
• They were accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
• We have been denied justice for too long.
• the battle for Taylor to face justice before the High Court
• the deadliest episode of vigilante justice in American history
• those who are ultimately responsible for dispensing justice
• victims seeking retributive justice
• Children often have a highly developed sense of justice.
• Our laws must be based on the principles of justice.
• Sometimes I feel that there's no justice in the world.
• They're demanding equal rights and social justice.
• We will not get social order until we have economic justice.
justice / ˈdʒʌs.tɪs / noun [ U ] (FAIRNESS)
B2 fairness in the way people are dealt with:
There's no justice in the world when people can be made to suffer like that.
The winner has been disqualified for cheating, so justice has been done (= a fair situation has been achieved) .
→ Opposite injustice
justice / ˈdʒʌs.tɪs / noun [ U ] (LAW)
B2 the system of laws in a country that judges and punishes people:
the justice system in this country consists of a series of law courts at different levels.
The police are doing all they can to bring those responsible for the bombing to justice.
They are victims of a miscarriage of justice (= when the law has been carried out wrongly) .
He has been accused of obstructing the course of justice (= preventing the law being put into action) .
justice / ˈdʒʌs.tɪs / noun (JUDGE)
[ C ] US a judge in a law court:
The president is expected to name a new Supreme Court justice within the next few days.
Justice Ben Overton
[ C ] UK used before the name of a judge in the High Court:
Mr Justice Ellis
justice
[ʤʌ̱stɪs]
♦♦
justices
1) N-UNCOUNT Justice is fairness in the way that people are treated.
He has a good overall sense of justice and fairness...
He only wants freedom, justice and equality...
There is no justice in this world!
2) N-UNCOUNT The justice of a cause, claim, or argument is its quality of being reasonable, fair, or right.
We are a minority and must win people round to the justice of our cause.
Syn:
legitimacy
3) N-UNCOUNT: oft N n Justice is the legal system that a country uses in order to deal with people who break the law.
Many in Toronto's black community feel that the justice system does not treat them fairly...
A lawyer is part of the machinery of justice.
4) N-COUNT A justice is a judge. [AM]
Thomas will be sworn in today as a justice on the Supreme Court.
5) N-TITLE Justice is used before the names of judges.
A preliminary hearing was due to start today before Mr Justice Hutchison, but was adjourned.
6) → See also miscarriage of justice
7) PHRASE: V inflects If a criminal is brought to justice, he or she is punished for a crime by being arrested and tried in a court of law.
They demanded that those responsible be brought to justice...
She'd need proof to bring Jason to justice.
8) PHRASE: V inflects To do justice to a person or thing means to reproduce them accurately and show how good they are.
The photograph I had seen didn't do her justice...
Most TV sets don't have the sound quality to do justice to the music.
9) PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR to n If you do justice to someone or something, you deal with them properly and completely.
No one article can ever do justice to the topic of fraud...
It is impossible here to do justice to the complex history of the Legion.
10) PHRASE: V inflects If you do yourself justice, you do something as well as you are capable of doing it.
I don't think he could do himself justice playing for England...
I don't think I can win, but I want to do myself justice.
11) PHRASE If you describe someone's treatment or punishment as rough justice, you mean that it is not given according to the law. [BRIT]
Trial by television makes for very rough justice indeed.
12) PHRASE: v-link PHR If you say that something is rough justice for someone, you mean that they have not been treated fairly. [BRIT]
It would have been rough justice had he been deprived of this important third European win.
justice
jus·tice /ˈʤʌstəs/ noun, pl -tic·es
1 [noncount] : the process or result of using laws to fairly judge and punish crimes and criminals
• They received justice in court.
• the justice system
• the U.S. Department of Justice
• criminals attempting to escape justice
• The role of the courts is to dispense justice fairly to everyone.
• Many people do not believe that justice has been served/done in his case. [=that he has been given proper punishment or fair treatment by the legal system]
• His supporters claim that he is an innocent man and that his conviction was a miscarriage of justice. [=an error made in a court of law that results in an innocent person being punished or a guilty person being freed]
✦Someone who is brought to justice is arrested and punished for a crime in a court of law.
• The police couldn't bring the killer to justice.
- see also poetic justice
2 a [count] US : a judge in a court of law
• She is a justice of the state supreme court.
- see also chief justice
b Justice
- used as a title for a judge (such as a judge of the U.S. Supreme Court)
• Justice Marshall
3 [noncount]
a : the quality of being fair or just
• a sense of justice
• I saw no justice in the court's decision.
b : fair treatment
• We should strive to achieve justice for all people.
do justice
✦To do justice to something or someone or to do someone or something justice is to treat or show something or someone in a way that is as good as it should be.
• Words could never do justice to her beauty. [=could not adequately describe her beauty]
• The movie does not do justice to the book. = The movie does not do the book justice. [=the movie is not as good as the book]
• a brief summary that does not do justice to [=does not adequately show] the complexity of this issue
obstruction of justice
- see obstruction
pervert the course of justice
- see 1pervert
treating someone in a way that is right or reasonable, or treating a group of people equally and not allowing personal opinions to influence your judgment
با انصاف
a fair judge
قاضى منصف
adjective (fairer, fairest)
1 treating people equally or in the right way:
They didn't get a fair trial.
It's not fair! I have to go to bed before my sister!
opposite unfair
2 quite good or quite large:
They have a fair chance of winning.
They've invited a fair number of people to their party.
3 (used about a person's skin or hair) light in colour:
He's got fair hair.
opposite dark
4 (used about the weather) bright and not raining
fair
I. fair1 S1 W2 /feə $ fer/ adjective
[Word Family: adverb: fairly ≠ unfairly, fair; noun: fairness ≠ unfairness; adjective: fair ≠ unfair]
[Language: Old English; Origin: fæger 'beautiful']
1. REASONABLE AND ACCEPTABLE a fair situation, system, way of treating people, or judgment seems reasonable, acceptable, and right OPP unfair:
All we are asking for is a fair wage.
£150 is a fair price.
fair trial/hearing
the right to a fair trial
What do you think is the fairest solution?
The report is a fair summary of the issues facing us.
it is fair to do something
It seems fair to give them a second chance.
it’s only fair (that) (=used to say that it is right to do something)
It’s only fair that we tell him what’s happening.
it’s fair to say (that) (=used when you think what you are saying is correct or reasonable)
It’s fair to say that by then he had lost the support of his staff.
it’s not fair on somebody
I can’t carry on working such long hours. It’s not fair on my family.
2. TREATING EVERYONE EQUALLY treating everyone in a way that is right or equal OPP unfair:
Why does Eric get to go and I don’t? It’s not fair!
Life isn’t always fair.
fair to
The old law wasn’t fair to women.
it’s only fair (that)
You pay him $10 an hour – it’s only fair that I should get the same.
My boss expects a lot – but he’s very fair.
3. QUITE LARGE a fair size/amount/number/bit/distance etc especially British English quite a large size, number etc:
I’ve still got a fair amount of work left to do.
We had travelled a fair way (=quite a long distance) by lunch time.
there’s a fair chance (that)/of something (=it is quite likely that something will happen)
There’s a fair chance we’ll be coming over to England this summer.
4. HAIR/SKIN someone who is fair, or who has fair hair or skin, has hair or skin that is very light in colour OPP dark
5. ACCORDING TO THE RULES a fair fight, game, or election is one that is played or done according to the rules OPP unfair
6. LEVEL OF ABILITY neither particularly good nor particularly bad SYN average:
Her written work is excellent but her practical work is only fair.
7. WEATHER weather that is fair is pleasant and not windy, rainy etc SYN fine:
It should be generally fair and warm for the next few days.
8. have had more than your fair share of something to have had more of something, especially something unpleasant, than seems reasonable:
Poor old Alan! He’s had more than his fair share of bad luck recently.
9. give somebody a fair crack of the whip British English informal to give someone the opportunity to do something, especially so that they can show that they are able to do it
10. give somebody/get a fair shake American English informal to treat someone, or to be treated, in a way that gives everyone the same chances as everyone else:
Women don’t always get a fair shake in business.
11. by fair means or foul using any method to get what you want, including dishonest or illegal methods
12. all’s fair in love and war used to say that in some situations any method of getting what you want is acceptable
13. PLEASANT/ATTRACTIVE old use or literary pleasant and attractive:
a fair maiden
• • •
SPOKEN PHRASES
14. fair enough especially British English used to say that you agree with someone’s suggestion or that something seems reasonable SYN OK:
‘I think we should split the bill.’ ‘Fair enough.’
15. to be fair used when adding something after someone has been criticized, which helps to explain or excuse what they did SYN in fairness:
She should have phoned to tell us what her plans were although, to be fair, she’s been very busy.
16. be fair! especially British English used to tell someone not to be unreasonable or criticize someone too much:
Now Pat, be fair, the poor girl’s trying her hardest!
17. fair’s fair used when you think it is fair that someone should do something, especially because of something that has happened earlier:
Come on, fair’s fair – I paid last time so it’s your turn.
18. fair comment British English used to say that a remark or criticism seems reasonable
19. you can’t say fairer than that British English used to say that an offer you are making to someone is the best and fairest offer they can possibly get:
I’ll give you £25 for it – you can’t say fairer than that, can you?
20. it’s a fair cop British English used humorously to admit that you should not be doing something that someone has caught you doing
21. with your own fair hands British English if you do something with your own fair hands, you do it yourself without any help – used humorously ⇒ have a fair idea of something at idea
• • •
| THESAURUS |
▪ fair treating people equally or in the way that is right: It’s not fair that she gets paid more than me. | Everyone has the right to a fair trial.
▪ just formal morally right and fair: a just punishment | a just cause | a just society | Do you think it was a just war?
▪ reasonable fair and sensible according to most people’s standards: a reasonable request | Lateness, without a reasonable excuse, will not be tolerated.
▪ balanced giving fair and equal treatment to all sides of an argument or subject: Balanced reporting of the news is essential.
▪ even-handed giving fair and equal treatment to everyone, especially when it would be easy to favour one particular group: The drama takes an even-handed look at the consequences of violent crime, both on attackers and their victims. | The film is even-handed and does not try to make you support either side.
▪ equitable /ˈekwətəbəl, ˈekwɪtəbəl/ formal giving equal treatment to everyone involved: We need an equitable solution to this problem. | a more equitable distribution of wealth
fair
fair [fair fairs fairer fairest] adjective, adverb, noun [feə(r)] [fer]
adjective (fair·er, fair·est)
ACCEPTABLE/APPROPRIATE
1. acceptable and appropriate in a particular situation
• a fair deal/wage/price/question
• 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.
• ~ to sb (to do sth) Was it really fair to him to ask him to do all the work?
• ~ on sb (to do sth) It's not fair on the students to keep changing the timetable.
• ~ to do sth It's only fair to add that they were not told about the problem until the last minute.
• I think it is fair to say that they are pleased with this latest offer.
• ~ that… It seems only fair that they should give us something in return.
• To be fair, she behaved better than we expected.
• (especially BrE) ‘You should really have asked me first.’ ‘Right, okay, fair comment.’
Opp: unfair
TREATING PEOPLE EQUALLY
2. treating everyone equally and according to the rules or law
• She has always been scrupulously fair.
• demands for a fairer distribution of wealth
• ~ (to sb) We have to be fair to both players.
• to receive a fair trial
• free and fair elections
• It's not fair! He always gets more than me.
• The new tax is fairer than the old system.
• They are fair and decent employers.
• his vision of a fairer, kinder society
Opp: unfair
QUITE LARGE
3. only before noun quite large in number, size or amount
• A fair number of people came a long.
• 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).
QUITE GOOD
4. (especially BrE) 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.
HAIR/SKIN
5. pale in colour
• a fair complexion
• She has long fair hair.
• All her children are fair (= they all have fair hair).
Opp: dark
WEATHER
6. bright and not raining
Syn: fine
• a fair and breezy day
• The day was set fair with the spring sun shining down.
7. (literary) (of winds) not too strong and blowing in the right direction
• They set sail with the first fair wind.
BEAUTIFUL
8. (literary or old use) beautiful
• a fair maiden
Word Origin:
adj. and adv. Old English fæger ‘pleasing, attractive’ Germanic Old High German fagar
n. Middle English ‘periodic gathering for the sale of goods’ Old French feire late Latin feria Latin feriae ‘holy days’
Thesaurus:
fair adj.
• We want a fair wage.
reasonable • • equal • • even-handed • • just • |formal equitable •
Opp: unfair
be fair/reasonable/just/equitable that…
a/an fair/reasonable/equal/just/equitable division/distribution/share of sth
be fair/reasonable/just law/punishment/sentence/judgement/person/man/woman
Example Bank:
• I don't care what he thinks. It seems perfectly fair to me.
• I'll give you ten pounds each to make it fair.
• It's hardly fair that I should be working while everyone else is enjoying themselves!
• It's important to be scrupulously fair when grading the final exam paper.
• That doesn't seem quite fair.
• That seems fair to all sides.
• To be fair, we hadn't really spent enough time on the job.
• ‘You really should have asked me first.’ ‘OK. Fair comment.’
• All we're asking for is a fair wage.
• Everyone has the right to a fair trial.
• For the first time, free and fair elections will be held.
• I don't think the sentence was very fair.
• I give you fair warning, I'm not always this generous.
• It was a fair and breezy day.
• It wasn't really fair to ask him to do all the work.
• It's a fair question, and it deserves to be taken seriously.
• It's fair to say that they are pleased with the latest offer.
• It's not fair on the students…
• It's not fair to the students to keep changing the schedule.
• It's not fair! He always gets more than me!
• It's only fair to say that this is the first time she's heard about the problem.
• It's quite expensive, but I still think it's a fair price.
• Scoring twenty points was a fair achievement.
• The day was set fair with the spring sun shining down.
• The new tax is fairer than the old one.
• They are demanding a fairer distribution of the earth's resources.
• To be fair, she behaved better than we expected.
Idioms: all's fair in love and war ▪ by fair means or foul ▪ fair and square ▪ fair crack of the whip ▪ fair enough ▪ fair hearing ▪ fair shake ▪ fair to middling ▪ fair! ▪ fair's fair ▪ fairly and squarely ▪ it's a fair cop ▪ set fair ▪ your fair share of something
fair (BEAUTIFUL) /feəʳ/ US /fer/
adjective OLD USE
(of a woman) beautiful:
a fair maiden
fairness /ˈfeə.nəs/ US /ˈfer-/
noun [U] OLD USE
beauty
See also fairness at fair (RIGHT).
fair (WEATHER) /feəʳ/ US /fer/
adjective
(of weather) pleasant and dry:
Fair weather was forecast for the following day.
fair (QUITE GOOD) /feəʳ/ US /fer/
adjective [before noun]
(of an idea, guess or chance) good, but not excellent:
I think I've got a fair idea of (= I understand reasonably well) what you want.
She's got a fair chance of winning (= There is a reasonable chance that she will win).
fair (QUITE LARGE) /feəʳ/ US /fer/
adjective [before noun]
quite large:
We've had a fair amount of rain this week.
We've had a fair number of applicants.
It's a fair-sized garden.
We've come a long way, but there's still a fair way (= quite a long distance) to go.
fairly /ˈfeə.li/ US /ˈfer-/
adverb
1 more than average, but less than very:
She's fairly tall.
I'm fairly sure that this is the right address.
We get on fairly well.
I saw her fairly recently.
See also fairly at fair (RIGHT).
2 LITERARY used to emphasize figurative expressions which describe what people or objects are doing:
The answer fairly jumps off the page at you!
The dog fairly flew out of the door to greet him.
fair
[fe͟ə(r)]
♦♦
fairer, fairest, fairs
1) ADJ-GRADED: oft it v-link ADJ to-inf Something or someone that is fair is reasonable, right, and just.
It didn't seem fair to leave out her father...
Do you feel they're paying their fair share?...
Independent observers say the campaign's been very much fairer than expected...
I wanted them to get a fair deal...
An appeals court had ruled that they could not get a fair trial in Los Angeles.
Derived words:
fairly ADV-GRADED usu ADV after v, also ADV -ed ...demonstrating concern for employees and solving their problems quickly and fairly... In a society where water was precious, it had to be shared fairly between individuals.
2) ADJ: ADJ n A fair amount, degree, size, or distance is quite a large amount, degree, size, or distance.
My neighbours across the street travel a fair amount...
My mother's brother lives a fair distance away so we don't see him and his family very often.
3) ADJ: ADJ n A fair guess or idea about something is one that is likely to be correct.
It's a fair guess to say that the damage will be extensive...
I have a fair idea of how difficult things can be.
Syn:
reasonable
4) ADJ If you describe someone or something as fair, you mean that they are average in standard or quality, neither very good nor very bad.
Reimar had a fair command of English.
Syn:
adequate
5) ADJ-GRADED Someone who is fair, or who has fair hair, has light-coloured hair.
Both children were very like Robina, but were much fairer than she was.
COMB in ADJ-GRADED
Fair is also a combining form. ...a tall, fair-haired Englishman.
6) ADJ-GRADED Fair skin is very pale and usually burns easily.
It's important to protect my fair skin from the sun.
COMB in ADJ-GRADED
Fair is also a combining form. Fair-skinned people who spend a great deal of time in the sun have the greatest risk of skin cancer.
7) ADJ-GRADED When the weather is fair, it is quite sunny and not raining. [FORMAL]
Weather conditions were fair.
Syn:
fine
8) N-COUNT: usu n N A county, state, or country fair is an event where there are, for example, displays of goods and animals, and amusements, games, and competitions.
9) N-COUNT A fair is the same as a funfair. [BRIT](in AM, use carnival)
10) N-COUNT: oft n N A fair is an event at which people display and sell goods, especially goods of a particular type.
→ See also craft fair, trade fair
...an antiques fair.
11) PHRASE: PHR with cl You use fair in expressions such as to be fair and let's be fair when you want to add a favourable comment about someone or something that you have just mentioned and to correct a false impression that you might have given.
To be fair, the team is young and not yet settled...
And, let us be fair, some MPs do work hard.
Syn:
in all fairness
12) PHRASE: PHR with cl You use fair enough when you want to say that a statement, decision, or action seems reasonable to a certain extent, but that perhaps there is more to be said or done. [mainly SPOKEN]
If you don't like it, fair enough, but that's hardly a justification to attack the whole thing...
Fair enough, you didn't have a perfectly happy childhood: but your childhood is over now.
13) CONVENTION You say fair enough to acknowledge what someone has just said and to indicate that you understand it. [SPOKEN]
`I'm taking it to our local police station.' - `Oh right, fair enough.'...
`The message was addressed to me and I don't see why I should show it to you.' - `Fair enough.'
Syn:
OK
14) PHRASE: V inflects If you say that someone plays fair, you mean that they behave or act in a reasonable and honest way.
The government is not playing fair, one union official told me.
15) PHRASE: PHR that You use fair in expressions such as It would be fair to say in order to introduce a statement which you believe to be true and reasonable.
It would be fair to say he had one or two unhappy moments out there...
I think it's fair to say that it didn't sound quite right.
16) PHRASE: PHR after v If you say that someone won a competition fair and square, you mean that they won honestly and without cheating.
There are no excuses. We were beaten fair and square.
17) a fair crack of the whip → see crack
fair (AVERAGE) /feəʳ/ US /fer/
adjective [after verb]
neither very good nor very bad:
Films are rated on a scale of poor, fair, good and excellent.
I was fair at science but it was never my thing.
fair (PALE) /feəʳ/ US /fer/
adjective
(of skin) pale, or (of hair) pale yellow or golden:
She's got fair hair and blue eyes.
a fair complexion
My sister's dark and my brother's fair (= He has fair hair).
He's fair-haired.
All my family are fair-skinned.
fair (RIGHT) /feəʳ/ US /fer/
adjective
1 treating someone in a way that is right or reasonable, or treating a group of people equally and not allowing personal opinions to influence your judgment:
a fair trial
Why should I have to do all the cleaning? It's not fair!
It's not fair on Joe (= It is not right) to make him do all the work!
It's not fair that she's allowed to go and I'm not!
It's not fair to blame me for everything!
She's scrupulously fair with all her employees (= she treats them all equally).
She claims her article was a fair comment on (= a reasonable thing to say about) a matter of public interest.
He offered to do all the cleaning if I did all the cooking, which seemed like a fair (= reasonable) deal.
2 If something, such as a price or share, is fair, it is reasonable and is what you expect or deserve:
I thought it was a fair price that she was offering.
I'm willing to do my fair (= equal) share of the work.
All the workers want is a fair wage for the work that they do.
3 If a game or competition is fair, it is done according to the rules:
It was a fair fight.
1fair /ˈfeɚ/ adj fair·er; -est
1 : agreeing with what is thought to be right or acceptable
• We received fair treatment.
• fair elections
• a fair fight
• a fair bargain/deal/trade
• I'm just trying to get a fair price for the house. [=I'm not trying to get more money for the house than most people think is right]
• That's a fair question, and it deserves an honest reply.
• The workers claim that they are not being paid fair wages. [=they are being paid less than they should be paid]
• It's only fair [=it is the right thing] to tell him the truth.
• I washed the dishes yesterday, so it's only fair (that) you to do them today.
• He gets his fair share of attention too. [=he gets a reasonable amount of attention]
• She's had more than her fair share of trouble. [=she has had a lot of trouble]
2 : treating people in a way that does not favor some over others
• He is known as a very fair man.
• I try to be fair to/with my children.
• He claims that the competition wasn't fair.
• It's not fair that she gets to leave early and I don't.
• Sometimes life isn't fair.
• a fair and impartial jury
• a bargain/deal/trade that is fair to/for everyone
• All she wants is a fair chance. [=the same chance everyone else gets]
3 : not too harsh or critical
• “What a bad movie!” “Be fair! Parts of it are actually pretty funny.”
• I can't say I liked the movie, but, to be fair, parts of it are pretty funny.
• She did poorly on the test, but, to be fair, so did a lot of other people.
4 a : not very good or very bad : of average or acceptable quality
• Her work has been fair to good.
• The quality of her work has been only fair.
• I think our waiter did a fair job.
• The patient has been upgraded from serious to fair condition.
• The food was fair to middling. [=just average; not especially good]
b approving : reasonably good : good although usually not excellent
• The team has a fair [=pretty good] chance of winning the championship this year.
• He does a pretty fair [=good] imitation of the President.
• He was able to give us a fair idea of the problems involved.
• It's a fair bet that the weather will improve soon.
• “I'm guessing that he's about 50 years old.” “That's a fair guess, but he's actually almost 60.”
c always used before a noun : reasonably large - used to describe an amount or size that is not small although it is also not extremely large
• There were a fair number of new participants at the convention.
• Researchers now know a fair amount about the earliest humans.
• He lives a fair distance from here.
5 : not stormy or cloudy
• fair skies
• fair weather
6 of a person's hair, skin, etc. : having a light color
• fair hair/skin
• a person of fair complexion
• a fair-skinned person
- opposite dark
7 literary + old-fashioned : attractive or pleasing to look at
• We're happy to welcome you to our fair [=lovely] city.
• a fair maid/maiden
• Who's the fairest of them all?
8 baseball : in the area between the foul lines
• The ball was caught in fair territory.
✦A fair ball is a batted ball that lands in the area between the foul lines.
- compare foul
a fair bit
- see 1bit
a fair shake
- see 2shake
all's fair in love and war
- used to describe a situation in which people do not follow the usual rules of behavior and do things that are normally considered unfair
• Sure, it was underhanded to steal his customers, but all's fair in love and war.
bid fair
- see 1bid
fair and square : in an honest and fair manner
• He won the election fair and square.
fair crack of the whip
- see 2crack
fair enough informal
- used to say that something is reasonable or fair
• “I'll wash the dishes today, and you can wash them tomorrow.” “Fair enough.”
• “He needs more time.” “Fair enough, but we can't wait too much longer.”
fair's fair informal
- used to say that something was done or should be done because it is fair
• Fair's fair: I washed the dishes yesterday, so it's your turn to do them today.
fair to say
✦A comment that is fair to say is reasonable and is not expected to cause argument.
• The key concept in this book, I think it is fair to say, is freedom.
• She's not entirely to blame, but it's (only) fair to say that she handled the situation badly.
fair warning : enough warning to be able to avoid something bad
• I'm giving you fair warning that you had better not discuss politics at dinner tonight.
it's a fair cop
- see 1cop
- fair adv
• He claims that his opponent wasn't playing fair. [=wasn't playing according to the rules]
- fair·ness noun [noncount]
• She questioned the fairness of the decision.
• In the interest of fairness, let's not mention any names.
• She did poorly, but in all fairness [=to be fair to her], she was tired.
