fairness
gb/fˈɛɹnəs/ us/fˈɛɹnəs/
B1
English
~ 6100
igazságosság, észszerűség, méltányosság, világos bőrszín, szépség, algoritmikus méltányosság, algoritmikus igazságosság
NOUN
B1
1
igazságosság
B1
Usage pattern:
the fairness of [a decision/treatment/rule]
Children often complain loudly when they feel a lack of fairness.
A gyerekek gyakran hangosan panaszkodnak, amikor úgy érzik, hogy igazságtalanul bánnak velük.
The new law was designed to improve fairness in the workplace.
Az új törvény célja az volt, hogy igazságosabbá tegye a munkahelyi viszonyokat.
Employees questioned the fairness of the promotion process.
A basic sense of fairness tells us that everyone should get a chance to speak.
The referee's fairness was praised by both teams.
Learner examples
My sister has a strong sense of fairness.
A lánytestvéremnek erős igazságérzete van.
We talked about the fairness of the school's rules.
Beszélgettünk arról, mennyire igazságosak az iskola szabályai.
People want fairness when they look for a job.
The teacher showed fairness and listened to every student.
Many laws try to protect fairness for all people.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *'the justice of the situation'* when they really mean everyday *'fairness'* in treatment, which sounds more natural in general conversation. Another mistake is using *'equalness'* instead of *'fairness'*; in most contexts, *'fairness'* is the correct noun. Also note that *'fairness'* is usually an uncountable noun, so avoid saying *'a fairness'*; say *'a sense of fairness'* or *'the fairness of the decision'* instead.
Meaning
quality of just, equal treatment
Collocations
sense of fairness
|basic fairness
|fairness and justice
|ensure fairness
|question of fairness
|procedural fairness
Synonyms
justice (Emphasizes moral or legal rightness; slightly more formal and abstract than 'fairness'.)
|
impartiality (Focuses on not favoring any side; often used about judges, referees, or decision‑makers.)
|
equity (Often used in legal, social, or policy contexts to stress fairness in outcomes and opportunities.)
Antonyms
injustice (Describes treatment that is morally or legally wrong and not fair.)
|
bias (Focuses on unfair preference for one person or group over another.)
|
unfairness (Direct opposite; any situation where people are not treated in a fair way.)
Themes
ethics
|law
|society
|daily life
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The quality of treating all people in the same honest and just way.
The quality or principle of treating people in an honest, impartial, and just way, without favoritism or discrimination.
NOUN
B2
2
észszerűség
B2
méltányosság
B2
Usage pattern:
the fairness of [a test/price/rule]
Students complained about the fairness of the exam after several questions covered material that had not been taught.
A diákok kifogásolták a vizsga méltányosságát, mert több kérdés olyan anyagra vonatkozott, amelyet nem tanítottak.
The committee reviewed the fairness of the new grading policy.
A bizottság felülvizsgálta az új osztályozási szabályzat észszerűségét.
Many customers questioned the fairness of the sudden price increase.
He accepted the punishment but still doubted its fairness.
An independent auditor was hired to evaluate the fairness of the selection process.
Learner examples
The students talked about the fairness of the test.
A diákok arról beszéltek, mennyire volt észszerű a teszt.
Some workers did not agree with the fairness of the new rules.
Néhány dolgozó nem tartotta méltányosnak az új szabályokat.
People asked about the fairness of the ticket prices.
Parents discussed the fairness of the school's decision.
We checked the fairness of the game before we started.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *'fairness'* where *'fair'* is needed before a noun, for example saying *'the fairness exam'* instead of *'the fair exam'* or *'the fairness of the exam'*. Use *'fairness'* after 'the' or 'of', and *'fair'* directly before nouns.
Meaning
reasonableness or balance of something
Collocations
the fairness of the exam
|the fairness of the decision
|the fairness of the system
|assess fairness
|perceived fairness
|price fairness
Synonyms
reasonableness (Focuses on being logical and not extreme, especially for rules, demands, or expectations.)
|
equitableness (More formal; stresses that conditions and outcomes are properly balanced for everyone involved.)
Antonyms
unreasonableness (Describes rules, prices, or demands that are not logical or are too extreme.)
|
excessiveness (Highlights that something is too much, too strict, or too high to be considered fair.)
Themes
education
|business
|law
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The quality of something being reasonable and not too hard or too easy.
The quality of being reasonable, balanced, and not too strict or too generous, especially when judging, testing, or setting conditions.
NOUN
C1
3
Usage pattern:
the fairness of [someone's] skin/complexion
The fairness of her skin made her sensitive to strong sunlight.
Világos bőre miatt érzékeny volt az erős napfényre.
Some beauty products advertise that they can increase skin fairness.
Egyes szépségápolási termékek azt hirdetik magukról, hogy világosabbá tudják tenni a bőrt.
Photographers must adjust lighting to suit the fairness of the model's complexion.
He inherited the fairness of his mother's skin and the dark hair of his father.
Discussions about fairness of skin can be sensitive because they relate to ideas about beauty and race.
Learner examples
The fairness of his skin makes him burn easily in the sun.
Világos bőre miatt könnyen leég a napon.
Some people use cream to change the fairness of their skin.
Vannak, akik krémet használnak, hogy világosabbá tegyék a bőrüket.
Doctors warn that trying to increase skin fairness can be unsafe.
Her makeup matches the fairness of her face.
We should not judge people by the fairness of their skin.
Common mistake:
Learners may think *'fairness'* always means *'justice'*, and be confused when it refers to skin color. Also, in many cultures, praising *'fairness'* of skin can carry social or racial implications. In modern English, it is safer and clearer to say *'light skin'* or *'light skin tone'* in neutral description, and to avoid suggesting that lighter skin is better.
Meaning
lightness of skin color
Collocations
the fairness of her skin
|skin fairness
|complexion fairness
|fairness cream
|promote fairness
|improve fairness (of skin)
Synonyms
paleness (Can describe light skin color but often suggests sickness or a lack of blood in the face.)
|
lightness (Neutral description of color; needs context to show it refers specifically to skin.)
Antonyms
darkness (Refers to a deeper or darker skin tone in this context.)
|
tan (Refers to skin that has become darker from the sun rather than naturally light.)
Themes
appearance
|body
|fashion
|core_vocabulary
Definition
How light a person's skin looks in color.
The quality of a person's skin appearing relatively light in color.
NOUN
C2
LITERARY
4
szépség
A2
Usage pattern:
the fairness of [someone's] face/features
Poets of that age often praised the fairness of their beloved.
Annak a kornak a költői gyakran dicsérték kedvesük szépségét.
The portrait captures not only her fairness but also her quiet strength.
A portré nemcsak a szépségét, hanem a csendes erejét is megragadja.
Stories from the period speak of queens whose fairness was known across the land.
He was struck silent by the sudden fairness of the stranger's face.
The novel dwells on the fading fairness of its aging heroine.
Learner examples
Old poems talk about the fairness of a lady.
Régi versek gyakran egy hölgy szépségéről szólnak.
Writers sometimes use 'fairness' to mean beauty.
Az írók néha a „fairness” szót „szépség” értelemben használják.
In this story, her fairness makes many men love her.
The painter tried to show her fairness in the picture.
Modern English does not often use 'fairness' to mean beauty.
Common mistake:
Learners may wrongly use this literary sense in everyday speech, saying things like *'I admire your fairness'* to mean *'I think you are beautiful'*, which sounds strange or unclear in modern English. Use *'beauty'* or *'good looks'* instead in normal conversation.
Meaning
physical beauty, especially female
Collocations
the fairness of her face
|youth and fairness
|admire her fairness
|celebrate her fairness
|her legendary fairness
Synonyms
beauty (General and very common word; not limited to literary or old-fashioned style.)
|
loveliness (Softer, more emotional word for beauty, often used in poetic or romantic descriptions.)
Antonyms
plainness (Describes a face or appearance that is not striking or especially beautiful.)
|
ugliness (Strong negative opposite, suggesting a lack of beauty.)
Themes
literature
|appearance
|arts_entertainment
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Beautiful appearance, especially of a woman, in a literary or old style.
Physical beauty, especially of a woman, often described in a poetic or old-fashioned way.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
5
Usage pattern:
fairness of [a system/algorithm/process]
Researchers proposed several measures to quantify algorithmic fairness in hiring tools.
A kutatók több mérőszámot javasoltak a munkaerő-felvételi eszközök algoritmikus méltányosságának számszerűsítésére.
Regulators are increasingly concerned about the fairness of automated credit-scoring systems.
A szabályozó hatóságokat egyre jobban aggasztja az automatizált hitelminősítési rendszerek méltányossága.
The company introduced fairness constraints to reduce bias in its recommendation engine.
Legal scholars debate how to define fairness in the use of predictive policing models.
Ensuring statistical fairness often requires careful analysis of outcomes across different demographic groups.
Learner examples
The team tested the fairness of their AI system.
A csapat tesztelte, mennyire méltányos a mesterségesintelligencia-rendszerük.
New laws ask for fairness in online ads.
Az új törvények méltányosságot követelnek meg az online hirdetésekben.
Scientists measure fairness by looking at results for different groups.
Engineers talk about fairness when they build decision tools.
Banks must show the fairness of their credit scores.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that in technical fields like AI or economics, *'fairness'* has more precise definitions that can differ from everyday ideas of what is fair. It is important to check how a specific field defines *'fairness'* instead of assuming the general meaning.
Meaning
lack of systematic bias
Collocations
algorithmic fairness
|statistical fairness
|distributive fairness
|fairness metric
|fairness constraint
|fairness standard
Synonyms
unbiasedness (Technical term used especially in statistics and machine learning for lack of systematic error or bias.)
|
nondiscrimination (Legal or policy term focusing on not treating protected groups worse than others.)
Antonyms
bias (General opposite; in these fields, means systematic error or unequal treatment built into a system.)
|
discrimination (Emphasizes unfair negative treatment of particular groups in outcomes or decisions.)
Themes
technology
|law
|science
|business
Definition
In technical or legal talk, when a system or rule does not give better or worse results to one group than to another.
In technical, legal, or statistical contexts, the property of a system, rule, or algorithm whose outcomes are not systematically biased toward or against any person or group.
Grammar
Dictionary form
fairness
IPA
GB/fˈɛɹnəs/
US/fˈɛɹnəs/
Syllables & stress
fair - ness (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (fair)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: fairness
- Plural: fairness
Word family
Expressions
a sense of fairness
1/ə sˈɛns əv fˈɛɹnəs/
fixed phrase
inner feeling of what is fair
A natural feeling inside a person that people should be treated in a fair way.
Examples
- Even very young children have a strong sense of fairness.
- Her decision came from a deep sense of fairness rather than from the rules.
- A healthy society depends on its citizens' sense of fairness.
ensure fairness
1/ɪnʃˈʊɹ fˈɛɹnəs/
fixed phrase
make sure things are fair
To take steps so that a process or situation is fair to everyone.
Examples
- The company hired an outside expert to ensure fairness in the hiring process.
- Clear rules help ensure fairness in competitions.
- We must ensure fairness when we divide the work among team members.
fairness and equality
1/fˈɛɹnəs ˈænd ɪkwˈɑləti/
fixed phrase
idea of being fair and equal
Used to talk about the goal that people are treated fairly and have the same rights and chances.
Examples
- The campaign focuses on fairness and equality in education.
- Many laws are written to promote fairness and equality in the workplace.
- They organized a march to demand fairness and equality for all citizens.
in all fairness
1/ˈɪn ˈɔl fˈɛɹnəs/
idiom
to be completely fair or balanced
Used before you say something that gives a more fair or balanced view of a person or situation.
Examples
- In all fairness, he did warn you that the project would be difficult.
- The movie was slow, but in all fairness, the acting was excellent.
- She can be strict, but in all fairness, she treats everyone the same.
in the interests of fairness
1/ˈɪn ðə ˈɪntɚˌɛsts əv fˈɛɹnəs/
fixed phrase
formal
for the sake of fairness
Used to say that you do something so that people are treated in a fair and equal way.
Examples
- In the interests of fairness, both sides were given extra time to speak.
- The judge ordered a new hearing in the interests of fairness.
- We changed the schedule in the interests of fairness to staff with children.