fairness
/ˈfɛːnəs
/noun [mass noun]
1Impartial and just treatment or behaviour without favouritism or discrimination: part of my role is to ensure fairness to all parties I was impressed with her fairness and firm hand as manager...
- Unfortunately, there are too many people who may allow feelings of revenge to override fairness.
- Their politics notwithstanding, the filmmakers strove for fairness in their portrayal of the violence inflicted by each side.
- Openness means equality; it breeds fairness which results in strength.
2The quality of having light-coloured hair or a pale complexion: descriptions emphasize the fairness of her skin...
- Her face was slightly flushed, the royal blue of her gown heightening the fairness of her skin and the glow of love in her eyes.
- Other descriptions emphasize the fairness of her skin, the fine texture of her hair, the serenity of her expression and the wealth displayed on her person.
- Isabella of Bavaria, remarkable for her gallantry, and the fairness of her complexion, introduced the fashion of leaving the shoulders and part of the neck uncovered.
3 archaic Beauty: the maiden allows her fairness to lead her to trouble...
- Virginia is the maiden daughter of Virginius who allows her fairness and beauty to lead her to trouble.
- An heiress of thirty years would have been prey enough; he dared not imagine what Katharine, with her fairness, youth, and bank stocks, might have become.
- Ignorant of anyone's disapproval, Audrey shared her expectations of her daughter's fairness with anyone who would listen.