Fair vs. Impartial — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 7, 2023
Fair refers to treating people equally without favoritism or discrimination, while impartial emphasizes a lack of bias or prejudice in decision-making or judgments. Both imply justice but fair involves equal treatment and impartial highlights neutrality.
Difference Between Fair and Impartial
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Fair and impartial are adjectives that describe qualities of equitable treatment and unbiased judgment, respectively. Fair encompasses treating all parties in a situation equally, ensuring no one has an undue advantage or disadvantage. On the other hand, impartial implies not favoring one side over the other, especially due to bias or partiality.
A person being fair ensures that each individual involved receives equal opportunities and justice. This implies a balanced distribution of resources, rights, or treatment. Conversely, an impartial person remains neutral, refraining from letting personal beliefs or preferences influence their decisions, thereby maintaining an unbiased standpoint.
Fairness often extends to ensuring that all individuals have equal access to opportunities and resources. It reflects a conscious effort to treat everyone with equal regard. In contrast, impartiality demands the suspension of personal biases or preferences, particularly in a position that requires objective evaluation or judgment.
The word fair can also denote a certain level of justice and equity in situations where moral and ethical considerations come into play. In contrast, impartiality underscores an objective, detached stance that is free from personal influences or biases, making decisions based solely on factual or logical assessment.
Fairness might involve proactive efforts to establish equality and can sometimes require rectifying existing inequalities. Whereas impartiality typically involves a passive restraint from allowing personal biases to affect decisions, ensuring that judgments or outcomes are not swayed by personal interests or beliefs.
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Comparison Chart
Basic Meaning
Equal and unbiased treatment
Lack of bias or prejudice
Focus
Equality in treatment or distribution
Neutrality in judgment or decision-making
Associated Action
Actively ensuring equal outcomes
Passively avoiding biased judgments
Ethical/Moral Undertone
Often involves ethical considerations
More focused on objective neutrality
Connotations
Can imply correction of existing inequalities
Suggests a detachment from personal biases
Compare with Definitions
Fair
Treating people equally without favoritism or discrimination.
The teacher was fair in grading all the students equally.
Impartial
Treating all rivals or disputants equally.
The judge was impartial in handling both cases.
Fair
Exhibiting a light or pale complexion.
She has fair skin that burns easily in the sun.
Impartial
Lacking in prejudice or bias.
The umpire made an impartial decision during the game.
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.
Impartial
Free from self-interest, prejudice, or favoritism.
Her impartial advice was crucial in making the decision.
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
Impartial
Not partial or biased.
The impartial review was appreciated by all parties.
Fair
(of hair or complexion) light; blonde
A pretty girl with long fair hair
Impartial
Having an unbiased standpoint.
The mediator was impartial and considered all views.
Fair
Considerable though not outstanding in size or amount
He did a fair bit of coaching
Impartial
Treating all rivals or disputants equally
The minister cannot be impartial in the way that a judge would be
Fair
(of weather) fine and dry
A fair autumn day
Impartial
Not partial or biased; unprejudiced.
Fair
Beautiful
The fairest of her daughters
Impartial
Treating all parties, rivals, or disputants equally; not partial; not biased
Fair
Without cheating or trying to achieve unjust advantage
No one could say he played fair
Impartial
Not partial; not favoring one more than another; treating all alike; unprejudiced; unbiased; disinterested; equitable; fair; just.
Jove is impartial, and to both the same.
A comprehensive and impartial view.
Fair
To a high degree
She'll be fair delighted to see you
Impartial
Showing lack of favoritism;
The cold neutrality of an impartial judge
Fair
A beautiful woman
Pursuing his fair in a solitary street
Impartial
Free from undue bias or preconceived opinions;
An unprejudiced appraisal of the pros and cons
The impartial eye of a scientist
Fair
A gathering of stalls and amusements for public entertainment
I won a goldfish at the fair
Fair
A periodic gathering for the sale of goods.
Fair
(of the weather) become fine
Looks like it's fairing off some
Fair
Streamline (a vehicle, boat, or aircraft) by adding fairings
It is fully faired and race ready
Fair
Of pleasing appearance, especially because of a pure or fresh quality; comely.
Fair
Light in color, especially blond
Fair hair.
Fair
Of light complexion
Fair skin.
Fair
Free of clouds or storms; clear and sunny
Fair skies.
Fair
Free of blemishes or stains; clean and pure
One's fair name.
Fair
Promising; likely
We're in a fair way to succeed.
Fair
Having or exhibiting a disposition that is free of favoritism or bias; impartial
A fair mediator.
Fair
Just to all parties; equitable
A compromise that is fair to both factions.
Fair
Being in accordance with relative merit or significance
She wanted to receive her fair share of the proceeds.
Fair
Consistent with rules, logic, or ethics
A fair tactic.
Fair
Moderately good; acceptable or satisfactory
Gave only a fair performance of the play.
In fair health.
Fair
Superficially true or appealing; specious
Don't trust his fair promises.
Fair
Lawful to hunt or attack
Fair game.
Fair
(Archaic) Free of all obstacles.
Fair
In a proper or legal manner
Playing fair.
Fair
Directly; straight
A blow caught fair in the stomach.
Fair
To join (pieces) so as to be smooth, even, or regular
Faired the aircraft's wing into the fuselage.
Fair
(Archaic) A beautiful or beloved woman.
Fair
(Obsolete) Loveliness; beauty.
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.
Fair
An exhibition of home or farm products and skills, usually with competitions and entertainments
My pumpkin won first prize at the county fair.
Fair
An exhibition intended to inform people about a product or business opportunity
A computer fair.
A job fair.
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.
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.
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.
Fair
Light in color, pale, particularly with regard to skin tone but also referring to blond hair.
She had fair hair and blue eyes.
Fair
Just, equitable.
He must be given a fair trial.
Fair
Adequate, reasonable, or decent, but not excellent.
Their performance has been only fair.
The patient was in a fair condition after some treatment.
Fair
Favorable to a ship's course.
Fair
Not overcast; cloudless; clear; pleasant; propitious; said of the sky, weather, or wind, etc.
A fair sky;
A fair day
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
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
Sufficiently large or adequate.
We paid a fair amount for the services rendered.
Fair
Marked by favorable conditions.
We had a fair weather for our outing today.
Fair
Being pleasing to the eye or mind aesthetically.
The painting was a fair representation of the landscape.
Common Curiosities
Is fairness more concerned with outcomes while impartiality more with processes?
Often, yes. Fairness tends to lean towards ensuring equal outcomes, whereas impartiality emphasizes unbiased processes and decision-making.
Does being fair mean always being impartial?
No, being fair involves equitable treatment, while being impartial emphasizes neutrality and lack of bias.
Can one be fair without being impartial, and vice versa?
Yes, one can be fair by ensuring equal treatment but might still hold personal biases (not being impartial), and one can be impartial (unbiased) without actively ensuring equal outcomes (fairness).
How can one ensure they are being fair in a competitive scenario?
Ensuring adherence to rules, providing equal opportunities, and rectifying any discriminatory practices or biases can uphold fairness in a competitive environment.
Why is being fair crucial in educational environments?
Fairness in educational settings ensures that all students have equal opportunities to learn, grow, and succeed, which is vital for their development and future prospects.
How can organizations ensure fairness in their hiring processes?
Organizations can implement standardized processes, utilize unbiased algorithms, and engage in conscious efforts to mitigate biases to ensure fairness in hiring.
How does impartiality correlate with objectivity?
Impartiality and objectivity are closely related; both involve neutrality and a lack of bias, but impartiality often refers to fairness in treatment, while objectivity refers to unbiased factual accuracy.
How does impartiality affect decision-making in legal contexts?
Impartiality in legal contexts ensures that decisions are made solely based on facts, evidence, and lawful considerations without being influenced by personal beliefs or biases.
How does cultural perception affect what is considered fair or impartial?
Cultural norms and values can influence what is perceived as fair or impartial, as different cultures might have varied perspectives on equality, justice, and bias.
Can a fair judgment be partial to one side?
Fair judgments aim for equality, but theoretically, they might favor a side if it corrects an inequality.
Does impartiality always result in fairness?
Not always, as impartiality focuses on neutrality, it may not address existing inequalities and hence might not always be perceived as fair.
Can a person be impartial while evaluating their own work or actions?
It is challenging to be completely impartial in self-evaluation due to inherent biases but striving for impartiality in self-assessment is considered a good practice.
Is it possible to develop a universal standard for what is considered fair or impartial?
It’s challenging due to varied cultural, social, and individual perspectives on fairness and impartiality, but universal principles could potentially be outlined to guide fair and impartial actions and decisions.
Can a decision be seen as impartial even if it disproportionately benefits one party?
Yes, if the decision was made without bias and based on objective criteria, it can be impartial even if the outcome benefits one party more.
Can a system (like an algorithm) be completely fair or impartial?
While algorithms can be designed to minimize bias, complete fairness or impartiality is challenging due to potential biases in design, data, or implementation.
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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.
