fair play

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noun

just and honorable treatment, action, or conduct: The political campaign was notably lacking in fair play.

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CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of fair play

First recorded in 1585–95

Words nearby fair play

fair-minded, Fairmont, fairness, fairness doctrine, Fair Oaks, fair play, fair rent, fair sex, fair shake, fair-spoken, fair territory

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use fair play in a sentence

While punishing a team for breaking the rules is an important part of ensuring fair play, the arbitrary enforcement12 of what are often vaguely written13 laws can have an outsized effect on the outcome of a football game.
The NFL Offenses That Get The Most Out Of Defensive Pass Interference|Josh Hermsmeyer|December 9, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
On the PrimeDice app, you don’t need to worry about fair play.
The Best Bitcoin Dice Gambling Sites (2021 Reviews & Buyer’s Guide)|Special to the Washington Blade|August 25, 2021|Washington Blade
I know the Olympics is about the spirit of the Olympics and fairness and fair play, and I don't see why that should be restricted to just sports.
U.S. Olympians embrace latitude to speak out at trials, but IOC’s Rule 50 looms|Emily Giambalvo|April 9, 2021|Washington Post
Reed’s commitment to fair play has been questioned at other times, too, including during his college days, accusations that he has denied.
Patrick Reed ends up in another golf rules dispute before winning Farmers Insurance Open|Cindy Boren, Des Bieler|February 1, 2021|Washington Post

He is on trial along with three others, and Bogucki is blowing the whistle on government practices he says are not fair play.
A Navy Lawyer Cries Foul on Gitmo’s Kafkaesque Legal System|Eleanor Clift|September 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There was no direct translation in China for the British sense of fair play that went hand in hand with sport.
How to Hide a Famine with Ping-Pong|Nicholas Griffin|January 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A chess master who has lost a match and whose sense of fair play now prevents him from crying about an unsuccessful gambit?
The Mystery of Mikhail Khodorkovsky|Bernard-Henri Lévy|January 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Together, we discovered that a free market only thrives when there are rules to ensure competition and fair play.
Full Text of President Obama's Inaugural Address|Justin Green|January 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
So fair play to Kate for not taking any chances with the wellbeing of the future king or queen.
Kate Middleton's Pregnancy Forces Switch to Decaf|Tom Sykes|January 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He is a believer in fair play and seldom starts out of his own accord to make anyone trouble.
British Highways And Byways From A Motor Car|Thomas D. Murphy
There may be a sort of inverted vanity in refusing fair play to a power, on that ground.
The Daughters of Danaus|Mona Caird
In your love of justice; in your love of Ireland; in your love of honesty and fair play, I place my confidence.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.III.|E. Farr and E. H. Nolan
Fair play meant with him something more than fair play for the sake of sport—it meant as well fair play for the sake of justice.
The Way of a Man|Emerson Hough
They were ready to fight for their rights and squeal their protests for fair play before they were an hour old.
The Red Cow and Her Friends|Peter McArthur

British Dictionary definitions for fair play

fair play

noun

an established standard of decency, honesty, etc

abidance by this standard

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with fair play

fair play

Conformity to established rules; upright conduct and equitable conditions. For example, The coach insists on fair play. Shakespeare used this idiom in King John (5:2): “According to the fair play of the world, let me have audience.” [Late 1500s] Also see turnabout is fair play.

fair play

Origin of fair play

Words nearby fair play

Words related to fair play

How to use fair play in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for fair play

Other Idioms and Phrases with fair play