: 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
The rules reflect the principles of procedural due process and fundamental fairness prescribed by the Constitution … —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
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
He did poorly, but in (all) fairness [=to be fair to him], he was tired.
Cite this Entry
“Fairness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fairness. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.
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