: the quality or state of being fair
especially
: fair or impartial treatment : lack of favoritism toward one side or another
This is the real Ponzi scheme that does injury to the American promise of fairness … —
Jesse Jackson
Jesse Jackson The rules reflect the principles of procedural due process and fundamental fairness prescribed by the Constitution … —James O. Freedman
James O. Freedman … partisan gerrymandering has got so out of hand that it was up to the courts to restore a measure of fairness. —Jeffrey Toobin
Jeffrey Toobin We are living in the harsh world invented by a handful of corporate raiders whose values are completely foreign to the fairness and moderation that had so long served as the proper foundation of American success and the American dream. —Doris Haddock
Doris Haddock He did poorly, but in (all) fairness [=to be fair to him], he was tired.
Synonyms of fairness
Examples of fairness in a Sentence
a city of incomparable fairness, Venice has enchanted travelers for centuries
fairness was certainly uppermost in the elderly woman's mind as she made arrangements for dividing the family heirlooms among her many grandchildren
Recent Examples on the Web
The president's talk of nationalizing the voting process generated bipartisan pushback and alarms critics worried about the fairness of future races.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
In fairness to Slowik, Tua Tagovailoa lost velocity on his throws for unknown reasons, and was playing with limitations in the second half of the season, before being benched.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 4 Feb. 2026
The victim's daughter and multiple jurors from his 1992 trial are now urging the governor to grant clemency, arguing the case raises fundamental questions of fairness.
—CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
In other words, the world is meant to run on fairness.
—Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fairness
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Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
In fairness to Slowik, Tua Tagovailoa lost velocity on his throws for unknown reasons, and was playing with limitations in the second half of the season, before being benched.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 4 Feb. 2026
The victim's daughter and multiple jurors from his 1992 trial are now urging the governor to grant clemency, arguing the case raises fundamental questions of fairness.
—CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
In other words, the world is meant to run on fairness.
—Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fairness
Cite this Entry
“Fairness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fairness. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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