Fair vs. Fare — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 1, 2023
"Fair" generally relates to justice, beauty, or a gathering, while "fare" refers to a fee or how someone performs.
Difference Between Fair and Fare
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Fair" is a versatile term with several meanings that vary depending on the context. It can denote beauty, as when describing someone's appearance. Alternatively, it may relate to justice and equity, suggesting impartiality or absence of bias. In contrast, "fare" is primarily used to discuss the cost of a journey, such as a bus or taxi fare. Furthermore, it can describe how someone or something progresses or is treated in a particular situation.
In a more recreational context, a "fair" can signify a gathering, often for entertainment or commercial activities, like a county fair. Here, people can enjoy rides, games, and food stalls. "Fare", on the other hand, can also indicate food provided in specific contexts, like airplane fare. In this sense, it pertains to what is offered for consumption.
"Fair" has other meanings rooted in conditions or quality, especially in relation to weather. A fair day implies clear skies without rain. Contrarily, "fare" can describe the range or scope of a subject or discussion, implying what it covers or includes.
To sum it up, while "fair" can relate to aesthetics, justice, gatherings, or conditions, "fare" typically pertains to fees, performance, or offerings.
Comparison Chart
Primary Meaning
Just or impartial
Fee for transportation
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Secondary Meaning
A gathering for entertainment
The range or scope of a subject
Tertiary Meaning
Beautiful or attractive
Food provided in a specific context
Usage
Describing justice, conditions, beauty, gatherings
Discussing fees, how someone performs, or what is offered/consumed
Example
A fair judgment
The train fare increased
Compare with Definitions
Fair
Moderate in quality.
The project was of fair importance.
Fare
Perform in a specified way.
How did you fare in your exams?
Fair
Clear and sunny (weather).
It was a fair day with no clouds in sight.
Fare
A type or range of food.
The daily fare includes soup and sandwiches.
Fair
A fair (archaic: faire or fayre) is a gathering of people for a variety of entertainment or commercial activities. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary with scheduled times lasting from an afternoon to several weeks.
Fare
A fare is the fee paid by a passenger for use of a public transport system: rail, bus, taxi, etc. In the case of air transport, the term airfare is often used.
Fair
Treating people equally without favouritism or discrimination
The group has achieved fair and equal representation for all its members
A fairer distribution of wealth
Fare
The money paid for a journey on public transport
We should go to Seville, but we cannot afford the air fare
Fair
(of hair or complexion) light; blonde
A pretty girl with long fair hair
Fare
A range of food of a particular type
Traditional Scottish fare
Fair
Considerable though not outstanding in size or amount
He did a fair bit of coaching
Fare
Perform in a specified way in a particular situation or over a particular period
The party fared badly in the elections
Fair
(of weather) fine and dry
A fair autumn day
Fare
Travel
A knight fares forth
Fair
Beautiful
The fairest of her daughters
Fare
To get along
How are you faring with your project?.
Fair
Without cheating or trying to achieve unjust advantage
No one could say he played fair
Fare
To happen or develop
How does it fare with you?.
Fair
To a high degree
She'll be fair delighted to see you
Fare
To travel; go.
Fair
A beautiful woman
Pursuing his fair in a solitary street
Fare
To dine; eat.
Fair
A gathering of stalls and amusements for public entertainment
I won a goldfish at the fair
Fare
A transportation charge, as for a bus.
Fair
A periodic gathering for the sale of goods.
Fare
A passenger transported for a fee.
Fair
(of the weather) become fine
Looks like it's fairing off some
Fare
Food and drink; diet
Simple home-cooked fare.
Fair
Streamline (a vehicle, boat, or aircraft) by adding fairings
It is fully faired and race ready
Fare
(obsolete) A going; journey; travel; voyage; course; passage.
Fair
Of pleasing appearance, especially because of a pure or fresh quality; comely.
Fare
(countable) Money paid for a transport ticket.
Train fare
Bus fare
Taxi fare
Fair
Light in color, especially blond
Fair hair.
Fare
(countable) A paying passenger, especially in a taxi.
Fair
Of light complexion
Fair skin.
Fare
(uncountable) Food and drink.
Fair
Free of clouds or storms; clear and sunny
Fair skies.
Fare
(uncountable) Supplies for consumption or pleasure.
The television channel tended to broadcast unremarkable downmarket fare.
Fair
Free of blemishes or stains; clean and pure
One's fair name.
Fare
A prostitute's client.
Fair
Promising; likely
We're in a fair way to succeed.
Fare
To go, travel.
Behold! A knight fares forth.
Fair
Having or exhibiting a disposition that is free of favoritism or bias; impartial
A fair mediator.
Fare
(intransitive) To get along, succeed (well or badly); to be in any state, or pass through any experience, good or bad; to be attended with any circumstances or train of events.
Fair
Just to all parties; equitable
A compromise that is fair to both factions.
Fare
To eat, dine.
Fair
Being in accordance with relative merit or significance
She wanted to receive her fair share of the proceeds.
Fare
To happen well, or ill.
We shall see how it will fare with him.
Fair
Consistent with rules, logic, or ethics
A fair tactic.
Fare
(intransitive) To move along; proceed; progress; advance
We will continue to monitor how the hurricane fares against projected models.
Fair
Moderately good; acceptable or satisfactory
Gave only a fair performance of the play.
In fair health.
Fare
To go; to pass; to journey; to travel.
So on he fares, and to the border comesOf Eden.
Fair
Superficially true or appealing; specious
Don't trust his fair promises.
Fare
To be in any state, or pass through any experience, good or bad; to be attended with any circummstances or train of events, fortunate or unfortunate; as, he fared well, or ill.
So fares the stag among the enraged hounds.
I bid you most heartily well to fare.
So fared the knight between two foes.
Fair
Lawful to hunt or attack
Fair game.
Fare
To be treated or entertained at table, or with bodily or social comforts; to live.
There was a certain rich man which . . . fared sumptuously every day.
Fair
(Archaic) Free of all obstacles.
Fare
To happen well, or ill; - used impersonally; as, we shall see how it will fare with him.
So fares it when with truth falsehood contends.
Fair
In a proper or legal manner
Playing fair.
Fare
To behave; to conduct one's self.
She ferde [fared] as she would die.
Fair
Directly; straight
A blow caught fair in the stomach.
Fare
A journey; a passage.
That nought might stay his fare.
Fair
To join (pieces) so as to be smooth, even, or regular
Faired the aircraft's wing into the fuselage.
Fare
The price of passage or going; the sum paid or due for conveying a person by land or water; as, the fare for crossing a river; the fare in a coach or by railway.
Fair
(Archaic) A beautiful or beloved woman.
Fare
Ado; bustle; business.
The warder chid and made fare.
Fair
(Obsolete) Loveliness; beauty.
Fare
Condition or state of things; fortune; hap; cheer.
What fare? what news abroad ?
Fair
A gathering for the buying and selling of goods, often held at a particular time and place; a market
We attended the annual book fair.
Fare
Food; provisions for the table; entertainment; as, coarse fare; delicious fare.
Fair
An exhibition of home or farm products and skills, usually with competitions and entertainments
My pumpkin won first prize at the county fair.
Fare
The person or persons conveyed in a vehicle; as, a full fare of passengers.
Fair
An exhibition intended to inform people about a product or business opportunity
A computer fair.
A job fair.
Fare
The catch of fish on a fishing vessel.
Fair
An event, usually for the benefit of a charity or public institution, including entertainment and the sale of goods; a bazaar
A church fair.
Fare
An agenda of things to do;
They worked rapidly down the menu of reports
Fair
Beautiful, of a pleasing appearance, with a pure and fresh quality.
Monday's child is fair of face.
There was once a knight who wooed a fair young maid.
Fare
The sum charged for riding in a public conveyance
Fair
Unblemished (figuratively or literally); clean and pure; innocent.
One's fair name
After scratching out and replacing various words in the manuscript, he scribed a fair copy to send to the publisher.
Fare
A paying (taxi) passenger
Fair
Light in color, pale, particularly with regard to skin tone but also referring to blond hair.
She had fair hair and blue eyes.
Fare
The food and drink that are regularly consumed
Fair
Just, equitable.
He must be given a fair trial.
Fare
Proceed or get along;
How is she doing in her new job?
How are you making out in graduate school?
He's come a long way
Fair
Adequate, reasonable, or decent, but not excellent.
Their performance has been only fair.
The patient was in a fair condition after some treatment.
Fare
Eat well
Fair
Favorable to a ship's course.
Fare
The money a passenger pays for a journey.
The bus fare went up by ten percent.
Fair
Not overcast; cloudless; clear; pleasant; propitious; said of the sky, weather, or wind, etc.
A fair sky;
A fair day
Fare
To go or travel.
Fare forth into the world.
Fair
Free from obstacles or hindrances; unobstructed; unencumbered; open; direct; said of a road, passage, etc.
A fair mark;
In fair sight;
A fair view
Fare
To get along.
Given the circumstances, they fared pretty well.
Fair
(shipbuilding) Without sudden change of direction or curvature; smooth; flowing; said of the figure of a vessel, and of surfaces, water lines, and other lines.
Fair
(baseball) Between the baselines.
Fair
Taken direct from an opponent's foot, without the ball touching the ground or another player.
Fair
Not a no ball.
Fair
(statistics) Of a coin or die, having equal chance of landing on any side, unbiased.
Fair
Something which is fair (in various senses of the adjective).
When will we learn to distinguish between the fair and the foul?
Fair
(obsolete) A woman, a member of the ‘fair sex’; also as a collective singular, women.
Fair
(obsolete) Fairness, beauty.
Fair
A fair woman; a sweetheart.
Fair
(obsolete) Good fortune; good luck.
Fair
A community gathering to celebrate and exhibit local achievements.
Fair
An event for public entertainment and trade, a market.
Fair
An event for professionals in a trade to learn of new products and do business, a trade fair.
Fair
A travelling amusement park (called a funfair in British English and a (travelling) carnival in US English).
Fair
(transitive) To smoothen or even a surface (especially a connection or junction on a surface).
Fair
(transitive) To bring into perfect alignment (especially about rivet holes when connecting structural members).
Fair
To make an animation smooth, removing any jerkiness.
Fair
(transitive) To construct or design with the aim of producing a smooth outline or reducing air drag or water resistance.
Fair
To make fair or beautiful.
Fair
Clearly, openly, frankly, civilly, honestly, favorably, auspiciously, agreeably
Fair
Free from spots, specks, dirt, or imperfection; unblemished; clean; pure.
A fair white linen cloth.
Fair
Pleasing to the eye; handsome; beautiful.
Who can not see many a fair French city, for one fair French made.
Fair
Without a dark hue; light; clear; as, a fair skin.
The northern people large and fair-complexioned.
Fair
Not overcast; cloudless; clear; pleasant; propitious; favorable; - said of the sky, weather, or wind, etc.; as, a fair sky; a fair day.
You wish fair winds may waft him over.
Fair
Free from obstacles or hindrances; unobstructed; unincumbered; open; direct; - said of a road, passage, etc.; as, a fair mark; in fair sight; a fair view.
The caliphs obtained a mighty empire, which was in a fair way to have enlarged.
Fair
Without sudden change of direction or curvature; smooth; flowing; - said of the figure of a vessel, and of surfaces, water lines, and other lines.
Fair
Characterized by frankness, honesty, impartiality, or candor; open; upright; free from suspicion or bias; equitable; just; - said of persons, character, or conduct; as, a fair man; fair dealing; a fair statement.
Fair
Pleasing; favorable; inspiring hope and confidence; - said of words, promises, etc.
When fair words and good counsel will not prevail on us, we must be frighted into our duty.
Fair
Distinct; legible; as, fair handwriting.
Fair
Free from any marked characteristic; average; middling; as, a fair specimen.
The news is very fair and good, my lord.
Fair
Clearly; openly; frankly; civilly; honestly; favorably; auspiciously; agreeably.
Fair
Fairness, beauty.
Fair
A fair woman; a sweetheart.
I have found out a gift for my fair.
Fair
Good fortune; good luck.
Now fair befall thee !
Fair
A gathering of buyers and sellers, assembled at a particular place with their merchandise at a stated or regular season, or by special appointment, for trade.
Fair
A festival, and sale of fancy articles. erc., usually for some charitable object; as, a Grand Army fair; a church fair.
Fair
A competitive exhibition of wares, farm products, etc., not primarily for purposes of sale; as, the Mechanics' fair; an agricultural fair.
Fair
An exhibition by a number of organizations, including governmental organizations, for the purpose of acquainting people with such organizations or their members, not primarily for commercial purposes; as, the 1939 World's Fair.
Meet me in St. Louis, LouisMeet me at the fairDon't tell me the lights are shiningAnyplace but there.
Fair
To make fair or beautiful.
Fairing the foul.
Fair
To make smooth and flowing, as a vessel's lines.
Fair
A traveling show; having sideshows and rides and games of skill etc.
Fair
Gathering of producers to promote business;
World fair
Trade fair
Book fair
Fair
A competitive exhibition of farm products;
She won a blue ribbon for her baking at the county fair
Fair
A sale of miscellany; often for charity;
The church bazaar
Fair
Join so that the external surfaces blend smoothly
Fair
Free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; or conforming with established standards or rules;
A fair referee
Fair deal
On a fair footing
A fair fight
By fair means or foul
Fair
Showing lack of favoritism;
The cold neutrality of an impartial judge
Fair
More than adequate in quality;
Fair work
Fair
Not excessive or extreme;
A fairish income
Reasonable prices
Fair
Visually appealing;
Our fair city
Fair
Very pleasing to the eye;
My bonny lass
There's a bonny bay beyond
A comely face
Young fair maidens
Fair
(of a baseball) hit between the foul lines;
He hit a fair ball over the third base bag
Fair
Of no exceptional quality or ability;
A novel of average merit
Only a fair performance of the sonata
In fair health
The caliber of the students has gone from mediocre to above average
The performance was middling at best
Fair
Attractively feminine;
The fair sex
Fair
(of a manuscript) having few alterations or corrections;
Fair copy
A clean manuscript
Fair
Free of clouds or rain;
Today will be fair and warm
Fair
(used of hair or skin) pale or light-colored;
A fair complexion
Fair
In conformity with the rules or laws and without fraud or cheating;
They played fairly
Fair
In a fair evenhanded manner;
Deal fairly with one another
Fair
Just and unbiased.
The judge made a fair decision.
Fair
A gathering for entertainment or trade.
We attended the state fair last summer.
Fair
Light in color, especially of hair or complexion.
She had fair skin and blonde hair.
Common Curiosities
Does "fare" always relate to money?
No, "fare" can also describe how someone does or progresses in a situation.
Can "fair" describe someone's looks?
Yes, "fair" can describe someone with light complexion or hair.
What does "fare" mean in terms of transportation?
"Fare" refers to the money paid by a passenger for a journey.
Can "fare" refer to food?
Yes, "fare" can describe the type or range of food offered.
Is "farewell" related to the word "fare"?
Yes, "farewell" originates from a phrase meaning "fare thee well," wishing someone a good journey.
Can a judgment or decision be described as "fair"?
Yes, a judgment is "fair" if it's considered just and unbiased.
Can "fair" be used as a verb?
While less common, "fair" can be a verb meaning to smoothen or align something, especially in woodworking.
Is a "fair" always an event with rides and games?
No, while a "fair" can be an entertainment event, it can also be a trade show or exhibition.
Can "fair" refer to average quality?
Yes, when something is described as "fair," it can mean moderate or average in quality.
Can "fair" be used to describe the weather?
Yes, a "fair" day usually means it's clear and sunny.
Does "fair" always mean just and unbiased?
No, while "fair" can mean impartial, it has other meanings like beautiful or a type of gathering.
What's the connection between "fare" and travel?
"Fare" refers to the fee charged for a journey, like on a bus or train.
How is "fare" used in the context of performance?
"Fare" can describe how someone performs, as in "She fared well in the competition."
Is "fare" used in old English expressions?
Yes, phrases like "fare thee well" are older English ways of wishing someone well.
Can both "fair" and "fare" refer to offerings?
Yes, while "fair" might refer to what's offered at a gathering, "fare"
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
