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Unit 2: English In A Minute
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Session 31

The word 'fair' can mean many things. Learn 4 meanings of 'fair' in one minute with James!

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    Activity 1
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Activity 1

4 uses of 'fair'

'Fair' can be used in a fair number of ways. Learn the differences with James in this English In A Minute

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James

We’re going to look at 4 different uses of the adjective fair.

I sold my car for £2000 – it was a fair deal.

In this example, fair means ‘equitable'. It means that I received the correct amount of money. My car is worth £2000 and I received £2000,

It looks like there’s a fair chance it will rain tonight.

A fair chance is a set phrase and it describes the likelihood of something. It means that there is ‘a good chance’, or ‘a high likelihood’ of something happening.

My sister has fair hair and fair skin.

Fair is used to describe the colour in this example. It's like saying that my sister has light-coloured hair and light skin.

I have a fair understanding of Spanish, but I’m not fluent.

In this example, fair means 'average', or ‘not bad, but not great’. It means I know a little Spanish, but not a lot.

If you have a fair understanding of the word fair, why not leave us a comment?

4 uses of 'fair'

Fair can mean ‘equitable'. For example, if a financial deal was fair, it means that you received the correct amount of money.

  • The price he offered was a fair deal.
  • This country's tax system is not fair.

A fair chance is a set phrase and means that there is ‘a good chance’, or ‘a high likelihood’ of something happening.

  • There is a fair chance of snow this year.
  • There is a fair chance he'll leave the company.

Fair can also be used to describe something that is light-coloured. It is often used for hair, or as a synonym for pale. 

  • My dog has fair-coloured fur.
  • My son's hair was fair when he was a baby.

Fair also means 'average'.

  • I have a fair grasp of French.
  • I have a fair understanding of politics.


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