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Definition of fairness noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

fairness

noun
 
/ˈfeənəs/
 
/ˈfernəs/
[uncountable]Idioms
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  1. the quality of treating people equally or in a way that is reasonable
    • The fairness of the judicial system is being questioned.
    • She has a strong sense of justice and fairness.
    Extra Examples
    • Dr Jones was treated with scrupulous fairness by his employers.
    • Fairness demanded an equal division of the winnings.
    • Many people questioned the fairness of the election.
    • The new system of waiting lists should guarantee fairness to all patients.
    • They were all treated with strict fairness.
    • This is a matter of basic fairness.
    • a way of achieving fairness to the accused
    • We want fairness across the whole city in the way funding is allocated.
    • issues of economic fairness and personal equality
    • the need for fairness in applying these rules
    • Most democratic countries have established principles of social fairness.
    • Smaller countries are calling for more fairness in international trade.
    • The system needs to be changed in the interests of fairness.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • basic
    • elementary
    • simple
    verb + fairness
    • achieve
    • ensure
    • guarantee
    fairness + verb
    • demand something
    • require something
    preposition
    • in (all) fairness
    • with fairness
    • fairness  in
    phrases
    • a sense of fairness
    See full entry
  2. a pale colour of skin or hair
    • A tan emphasized the fairness of her hair.
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Idioms
in (all) fairness (to somebody)
  1. used to introduce a statement that defends somebody who has just been criticized, or that explains another statement that may seem unreasonable
    • In all fairness to him, he did try to stop her leaving.
    • I have in fairness to say that, as yet, there is no hard evidence to support these charges.
    • In all fairness to him, I should say that most of his story is true.
See fairness in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee fairness in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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