fairness
- 1The quality of being just and impartial, so that people are treated equitably and decisions are made without bias.
The referee's fairness was never in question, even when his calls went against the home team.
Critics questioned the fairness of a tax system that burdened lower earners most heavily.
Similarimpartiality, justice, equity, objectivity
Oppositeunfairness, injustice, bias, partiality
- 2The quality of being beautiful or lovely, especially in a person's face or appearance.
The ballad celebrated the fairness of his beloved above all other women.
Her fairness drew admiring glances as she passed through the crowded court.
Similarbeauty
Note
The beauty meaning reaches back to Old English fæġernes, which already meant beauty and pleasantness and was built from fair plus -ness. Today it belongs to poetry, ballads and deliberate period style. In ordinary modern prose a reader will likely hear the sense of justice instead, so plain beauty is the safer word unless the old-fashioned color is wanted.
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Origin
From Middle English "fairness," from Old English "fæġernes" (fairness, beauty, pleasantness), equivalent to "fair" plus "-ness." It is cognate with Old High German "fagarnessi" (fairness).