Fear vs. Fair — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 8, 2024
Fear is an emotion triggered by perceived danger, while fair refers to treating others equally and without bias. Both influence human behavior and decision-making.
Difference Between Fear and Fair
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Fear is a primal emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger, often causing physiological changes. On the other hand, fair is a concept rooted in ethics and morality, emphasizing impartiality and justice in treatment and opportunities.
Fear can be instinctive or learned through experiences, leading to avoidance or defensive actions to protect oneself. Whereas fair involves conscious decisions and actions to ensure equality and equity, promoting a sense of community and cooperation.
While fear often results in immediate, visceral reactions to threats, real or imagined, fair entails a more deliberative process, weighing principles of justice and equality to guide behavior and decisions.
Fear can be manipulated or exploited, in contexts ranging from personal relationships to politics, to control or influence behavior. Conversely, fair is upheld as a standard or principle to strive for, advocating for transparent and equitable treatment for all.
Fear and fair, despite their distinct nature, intersect in scenarios where the fear of unfair treatment motivates individuals or groups to seek justice and equitable solutions, highlighting the complex interplay between emotions and ethical principles.
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Comparison Chart
Nature
Emotion
Concept/Principle
Trigger
Perceived danger or threat
Awareness of inequity or injustice
Response
Instinctive or learned avoidance, fight or flight
Deliberative actions towards equality and equity
Influence
Can lead to immediate, often irrational reactions
Guides principles and decisions for equitable treatment
Societal Impact
Can cause panic, anxiety, or submission
Promotes justice, cooperation, and community wellbeing
Compare with Definitions
Fear
An unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous.
She felt a surge of fear when she heard the strange noise outside.
Fair
Of favorable character or tendency.
The forecast promises fair weather for the weekend.
Fear
The feeling of anxiety concerning the outcome of something.
His fear of failure made him hesitate to try new things.
Fair
Moderately but not excessively good.
He described her performance as fair.
Fear
A phobia, a specific fear of a particular thing or situation.
She has a fear of heights, so she avoids climbing ladders.
Fair
In accordance with the rules or standards; legitimate.
The judge ensured a fair trial for everyone involved.
Fear
To be afraid of someone or something as likely to be dangerous.
They fear the consequences of their actions.
Fair
Free from bias, dishonesty, or injustice.
The selection process was fair and unbiased.
Fear
Respectful dread or awe, especially towards authority.
The employees acted out of fear of their boss's wrath.
Fair
Light in color, especially of hair or complexion.
Her fair hair shimmered in the sunlight.
Fear
To be afraid or frightened of
A boy who fears spiders.
Fair
Without cheating or trying to achieve unjust advantage
No one could say he played fair
Fear
Fear is an emotion induced by the perception or recognition of phenomena which can pose a danger or threat. Fear causes physiological changes and therefore may produce behavioral changes, such as mounting an aggressive response or fleeing the threat.
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.
Fear
A very unpleasant or disturbing feeling caused by the presence or imminence of danger
Our fears intensified as the storm approached.
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
Fear
A state or condition marked by this feeling
Living in constant fear of attack.
Saved as much as he could for fear of losing his job.
Fair
(of hair or complexion) light; blonde
A pretty girl with long fair hair
Fear
A feeling of disquiet or apprehension
A fear of looking foolish.
Fair
Considerable though not outstanding in size or amount
He did a fair bit of coaching
Fear
A reason for dread or apprehension
Being alone is my greatest fear.
Fair
(of weather) fine and dry
A fair autumn day
Fear
Extreme reverence or awe, as toward a deity.
Fair
Beautiful
The fairest of her daughters
Fear
To be uneasy or apprehensive about
We all feared what we would see when the grades were posted.
Fair
To a high degree
She'll be fair delighted to see you
Fear
To consider probable; expect
I fear you are wrong. I fear I have bad news for you.
Fair
A beautiful woman
Pursuing his fair in a solitary street
Fear
To revere or be in awe of (a deity, for example).
Fair
A gathering of stalls and amusements for public entertainment
I won a goldfish at the fair
Fear
To be afraid
Your injury is minor. Don't fear.
Fair
A periodic gathering for the sale of goods.
Fear
To be uneasy or apprehensive
We fear for the future of the business.
Fair
(of the weather) become fine
Looks like it's fairing off some
Fear
(uncountable) A strong, uncontrollable, unpleasant emotion or feeling caused by actual or perceived danger or threat.
He was struck by fear on seeing the snake.
Fair
Streamline (a vehicle, boat, or aircraft) by adding fairings
It is fully faired and race ready
Fear
(countable) A phobia, a sense of fear induced by something or someone.
Not everybody has the same fears.
I have a fear of ants.
Fair
Of pleasing appearance, especially because of a pure or fresh quality; comely.
Fear
(uncountable) Terrified veneration or reverence, particularly towards God, gods, or sovereigns.
Fair
Light in color, especially blond
Fair hair.
Fear
(transitive) To be afraid of (something or someone); to consider or expect (something or someone) with alarm.
I fear the worst will happen.
Fair
Of light complexion
Fair skin.
Fear
(intransitive) To feel fear.
Never fear; help is always near.
Fair
Free of clouds or storms; clear and sunny
Fair skies.
Fear
To worry about, to feel concern for, to be afraid for.
She fears for her son’s safety.
Fair
Free of blemishes or stains; clean and pure
One's fair name.
Fear
(transitive) To venerate; to feel awe towards.
People who fear God can be found in Christian churches.
Fair
Promising; likely
We're in a fair way to succeed.
Fear
(transitive) To regret.
I fear I have bad news for you: your husband has died.
Fair
Having or exhibiting a disposition that is free of favoritism or bias; impartial
A fair mediator.
Fear
To cause fear to; to frighten.
Fair
Just to all parties; equitable
A compromise that is fair to both factions.
Fear
To be anxious or solicitous for.
Fair
Being in accordance with relative merit or significance
She wanted to receive her fair share of the proceeds.
Fear
To suspect; to doubt.
Fair
Consistent with rules, logic, or ethics
A fair tactic.
Fear
(dialectal) Able; capable; stout; strong; sound.
Hale and fear
Fair
Moderately good; acceptable or satisfactory
Gave only a fair performance of the play.
In fair health.
Fear
A variant of Fere, a mate, a companion.
Fair
Superficially true or appealing; specious
Don't trust his fair promises.
Fear
A painful emotion or passion excited by the expectation of evil, or the apprehension of impending danger; apprehension; anxiety; solicitude; alarm; dread.
Fear is an uneasiness of the mind, upon the thought of future evil likely to befall us.
Where no hope is left, is left no fear.
Fair
Lawful to hunt or attack
Fair game.
Fear
Apprehension of incurring, or solicitude to avoid, God's wrath; the trembling and awful reverence felt toward the Supreme Being.
I will put my fear in their hearts.
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Render therefore to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due . . . fear to whom fear.
Fair
(Archaic) Free of all obstacles.
Fear
That which causes, or which is the object of, apprehension or alarm; source or occasion of terror; danger; dreadfulness.
There were they in great fear, where no fear was.
The fear of your adventure would counsel you to a more equal enterprise.
Fair
In a proper or legal manner
Playing fair.
Fear
To feel a painful apprehension of; to be afraid of; to consider or expect with emotion of alarm or solicitude.
I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.
Fair
Directly; straight
A blow caught fair in the stomach.
Fear
To have a reverential awe of; to be solicitous to avoid the displeasure of.
Leave them to God above; him serve and fear.
Fair
To join (pieces) so as to be smooth, even, or regular
Faired the aircraft's wing into the fuselage.
Fear
To be anxious or solicitous for; now replaced by fear for.
The sins of the father are to be laid upon the children, therefore . . . I fear you.
Fair
(Archaic) A beautiful or beloved woman.
Fear
To suspect; to doubt.
Ay what else, fear you not her courage?
Fair
(Obsolete) Loveliness; beauty.
Fear
To affright; to terrify; to drive away or prevent approach of by fear.
Fear their people from doing evil.
Tush, tush! fear boys with bugs.
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.
Fear
To be in apprehension of evil; to be afraid; to feel anxiety on account of some expected evil.
I exceedingly fear and quake.
Fair
An exhibition of home or farm products and skills, usually with competitions and entertainments
My pumpkin won first prize at the county fair.
Fear
An emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
Fair
An exhibition intended to inform people about a product or business opportunity
A computer fair.
A job fair.
Fear
An anxious feeling;
Care had aged him
They hushed it up out of fear of public reaction
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.
Fear
A profound emotion inspired by a deity;
The fear of God
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.
Fear
Be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event;
I fear she might get aggressive
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.
Fear
Be afraid or scared of; be frightened of;
I fear the winters in Moscow
We should not fear the Communists!
Fair
Light in color, pale, particularly with regard to skin tone but also referring to blond hair.
She had fair hair and blue eyes.
Fear
Be sorry; used to introduce an unpleasant statement;
I fear I won't make it to your wedding party
Fair
Just, equitable.
He must be given a fair trial.
Fear
Be uneasy or apprehensive about;
I fear the results of the final exams
Fair
Adequate, reasonable, or decent, but not excellent.
Their performance has been only fair.
The patient was in a fair condition after some treatment.
Fear
Regard with feelings of respect and reverence; consider hallowed or exalted or be in awe of;
Fear God as your father
We venerate genius
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
Common Curiosities
What triggers fear?
Fear is triggered by perceived danger or threat.
What does it mean to be fair?
Being fair means treating all people equally and without bias.
Is fear always a negative emotion?
Not always; fear can also serve as a protective mechanism.
What is the purpose of fear?
The purpose of fear is to mobilize the body to avoid or confront danger.
Can fear be positive?
Yes, fear can be positive when it prompts caution in dangerous situations.
Why is fairness important?
Fairness is important because it promotes justice, equality, and trust in society.
How does fear affect decision-making?
Fear can lead to rushed or avoidance-based decisions, often prioritizing immediate safety.
How can one promote fairness?
Promoting fairness involves practicing impartiality, equity, and justice in one's actions and decisions.
How do societies ensure fairness?
Societies implement laws, policies, and norms designed to ensure fair treatment and opportunities for all.
What are the effects of unfair treatment?
Unfair treatment can lead to resentment, conflict, and a breakdown in trust and cooperation.
Can a situation be fair but not feel fair to everyone?
Yes, perceptions of fairness can vary, even in objectively fair situations.
What role does fairness play in relationships?
Fairness is crucial in relationships, fostering trust, respect, and mutual satisfaction.
Can fear be overcome?
Yes, through exposure, understanding, and coping strategies, fear can be managed or overcome.
Can fear be used as a tool for control?
Yes, fear can be exploited to manipulate or control individuals or populations.
How do personal biases affect fairness?
Personal biases can lead to unfair treatment, decisions, or judgments, undermining the principle of equality.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
