Fair vs. Beautiful — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 27, 2024
Fair typically refers to lightness in color or impartiality in judgment, while beautiful pertains to possessing qualities that give great pleasure to the senses, especially sight.
Difference Between Fair and Beautiful
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Fair, when used to describe complexion, refers to a lighter skin tone or hair color, emphasizing physical traits. On the other hand, beautiful describes someone or something that is aesthetically pleasing and attractive, which can encompass both physical and non-physical qualities.
In terms of judgment or actions, being fair implies impartiality, equality, and justice, focusing on ethical and moral standards. Whereas, beautiful in contexts such as behavior or expression, means appealing or pleasant, often conveying a sense of harmony and delight.
While fair can also mean adequate or satisfactory, as in "a fair amount," it suggests something that meets basic expectations without exceeding them. Conversely, beautiful often implies a level of excellence or perfection, surpassing ordinary standards and evoking admiration.
Fairness in opportunities, such as a fair chance, highlights the absence of bias and equal treatment. Beautiful, when used metaphorically, such as in "a beautiful opportunity," suggests that the situation is particularly favorable or advantageous, appealing to desires or ambitions.
Fair weather, meaning mild and pleasant, implies a condition that is enjoyable but not extraordinary. In contrast, a beautiful day typically suggests scenic beauty and exceptionally pleasant conditions, which are highly appreciated and memorable.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Light-colored; impartial and just.
Pleasing to the senses; aesthetically appealing.
Context of Use
Often used regarding skin tone or justice.
Widely used in physical and abstract senses.
Connotation
Neutrality, equality, or adequacy.
Excellence, attractiveness, and delight.
Typical Associations
Fair play, fair deal.
Beautiful view, beautiful art.
Emotional Impact
Generally moderate, aiming for balance.
Often strong, eliciting joy and admiration.
Compare with Definitions
Fair
Light in color, especially hair and skin.
She has fair skin that burns easily in the sun.
Beautiful
Pleasing in form, color, or appearance.
That painting is beautiful.
Fair
Moderately good; acceptable.
He has a fair grasp of the subject.
Beautiful
Pleasing the senses or mind aesthetically.
The sunset was absolutely beautiful.
Fair
Sufficient but not ample.
He earned just a fair amount of money.
Beautiful
Of a very high standard; excellent.
She gave a beautiful performance.
Fair
Free from bias, dishonesty, or injustice.
The judge is known for making fair decisions.
Beautiful
Referring to an abstract concept that is excellent or delightful.
The beauty of the plan lies in its simplicity.
Fair
Favorable, as in weather.
We had fair weather for our trip.
Beautiful
Used to describe actions or qualities that are very pleasing or admirable.
Her gesture was beautiful in its generosity.
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.
Beautiful
Having qualities that delight or appeal to the senses and often the mind.
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
Beautiful
Excellent; wonderful
Hit a beautiful shot from the tee.
Fair
(of hair or complexion) light; blonde
A pretty girl with long fair hair
Beautiful
Used to express approval or delight.
Fair
Considerable though not outstanding in size or amount
He did a fair bit of coaching
Beautiful
Attractive and possessing beauty.
Anyone who has ever met her thought she was absolutely beautiful.
There's a beautiful lake by the town.
Fair
(of weather) fine and dry
A fair autumn day
Beautiful
Good, admirable.
He was a beautiful person; he would drop everything to help you.
You've done a beautiful thing today.
Fair
Beautiful
The fairest of her daughters
Beautiful
(of the weather) Pleasant; clear.
It's beautiful outside, let's go for a walk.
Fair
Without cheating or trying to achieve unjust advantage
No one could say he played fair
Beautiful
Well executed.
The skater performed a beautiful axel.
Fair
To a high degree
She'll be fair delighted to see you
Beautiful
Someone who is beautiful. Can be used as a term of address.
The man was faithful to his wife, ignoring the many blonde beautifuls who surrounded him wherever he went.
Hey, beautiful!
Fair
A beautiful woman
Pursuing his fair in a solitary street
Beautiful
Having the qualities which constitute beauty; pleasing to the sight or the mind.
A circle is more beautiful than a square; a square is more beautiful than a parallelogram.
Fair
A gathering of stalls and amusements for public entertainment
I won a goldfish at the fair
Beautiful
Delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration;
A beautiful child
Beautiful country
A beautiful painting
A beautiful theory
A beautiful party
Fair
A periodic gathering for the sale of goods.
Beautiful
Aesthetically pleasing
Fair
(of the weather) become fine
Looks like it's fairing off some
Beautiful
(of weather) highly enjoyable;
What a beautiful day
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) 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
(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
Common Curiosities
How does beautiful differ from attractive?
Beautiful is generally more encompassing, often implying a deeper, emotional response, while attractive might focus more on physical or surface appeal.
Can fair be used to describe objects?
Yes, fair can describe objects in terms of adequacy or condition, like "fair condition," meaning passable but not excellent.
What makes something beautiful?
Something is considered beautiful if it is aesthetically pleasing or evokes a strong positive response through sight, sound, or touch.
Is fairness always related to ethics?
Fairness is commonly related to ethics in contexts that require impartiality and justice, such as in legal or social settings.
How is fairness important in sports?
Fairness in sports ensures all participants abide by the same rules, promoting a just and equitable competition.
Can beautiful be used for experiences?
Yes, experiences can be described as beautiful, particularly when they are exceptionally enjoyable and memorable.
What is an example of fair treatment?
Fair treatment might involve providing equal opportunities in the workplace, ensuring all employees have the same chances for promotion.
What does 'fair' mean in the context of beauty?
In beauty, 'fair' often refers to a lighter shade of skin or hair color.
What are common synonyms for beautiful?
Common synonyms for beautiful include stunning, gorgeous, and lovely.
What is the role of beauty in art?
In art, beauty plays a central role in provoking thought, evoking emotions, and providing aesthetic pleasure to viewers.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
