fairness
Balanced, unbiased judgment
Fairness is the quality of being just, impartial, or reasonable.
It implies treating people equally and making decisions without favoritism or bias: The fairness of the trial was questioned.
In games and competitions, fairness means following rules that give everyone an equal chance.
The word carries moral weight—unfairness provokes strong reactions because people expect equitable treatment.
In all fairness introduces a point that balances or tempers what came before.
Philosophy of universal equality
- parityState of being equal
- equal rightsIdentical legal protections
- equal opportunityUnbiased chance for all
- level playing fieldEqual competitive conditions
non-discrimination · even-handedness · equal treatment · uniformity · equivalence · sameness · unbiasedness · consistency
Guaranteed judicial fairness
- rule of lawSupremacy of established laws
- rightsJustified claims to freedoms
- verdictOfficial court decision
- courtTrial venue or sports surface
judge · trial · legislation · legal system · appeal · sentencing · tribunal · adjudication
State of taking sides
- objectivityFreedom from personal bias
- unbiasedFree from prejudice
- detachmentSeparation or emotional uninvolvement
- disinterestAbsence of bias
nonpartisanship · open-mindedness · dispassion · unprejudiced · disinterestedness · nondiscrimination · judiciousness · evenhanded
Moral soundness and consistency
- truthfulnessHabit of not lying
- candorUnguarded truthfulness
- sincerityHonest, unfeigned genuineness
- transparencyState of being see-through
trustworthiness · reliability · genuineness · forthrightness · probity · uprightness · veracity · authenticity
State of balance
- proportionalityScaling relationship between quantities
- evennessUniform, balanced quality
- distributionAllocation across recipients
- weightingAssigning relative importance values
equalization · calibration · adjustment · counterbalance · equipoise · symmetry · harmony · parity
Sharing out again differently
- accessibilityEase of approach
- inclusivityPractice of welcoming all
- affirmative actionPrograms boosting marginalized representation
- disparityMeasurable difference between things
privilege · underprivileged · empowerment · diversity · discrimination · reparations · social mobility · disadvantaged
Lacking color intensity
- lightVisible electromagnetic radiation
- ivoryTusk-derived material
- alabasterTranslucent carving stone
- porcelainTranslucent fired clay
rosy · creamy · peaches-and-cream · unblemished · clear · radiant · luminous · delicate
Compassion toward offenders
- leniencyMildness in punishment
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- amnestyGroup pardon from authorities
- reprievePostponement of punishment
grace · compassion · pardon · commutation · mitigation · forbearance · indulgence · absolution
Person accepting outcomes cheerfully
- respectRegard with honor
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
- humilityFreedom from arrogance
- camaraderieGoodwill among companions
gentlemanly · competition · decency · dignity · honor · magnanimity · graciousness · handshake
Moral straightness
- righteousnessMoral correctness or virtue
- decencyMoral appropriateness in behavior
- conscientiousnessCareful attention to duty
- scrupulousnessCareful moral precision
ethical · principled · just · honorable · incorruptibility
egalitarianism
Philosophy of universal equality
- parityState of being equal
- equal rightsIdentical legal protections
- equal opportunityUnbiased chance for all
level playing field · non-discrimination · even-handedness · equal treatment · uniformity · equivalence · sameness · unbiasedness · consistency · symmetry
due process
Guaranteed judicial fairness
- rule of lawSupremacy of established laws
- rightsJustified claims to freedoms
- verdictOfficial court decision
court · judge · trial · legislation · legal system · appeal · sentencing · tribunal · adjudication · jurisprudence
neutrality
State of taking sides
- objectivityFreedom from personal bias
- unbiasedFree from prejudice
- detachmentSeparation or emotional uninvolvement
disinterest · nonpartisanship · open-mindedness · dispassion · unprejudiced · disinterestedness · nondiscrimination · judiciousness · evenhanded · dispassionate
integrity
Moral soundness and consistency
- truthfulnessHabit of not lying
- candorUnguarded truthfulness
- sincerityHonest, unfeigned genuineness
transparency · trustworthiness · reliability · genuineness · forthrightness · probity · uprightness · veracity · authenticity · frankness
equilibrium
State of balance
- proportionalityScaling relationship between quantities
- evennessUniform, balanced quality
- distributionAllocation across recipients
weighting · equalization · calibration · adjustment · counterbalance · equipoise · symmetry · harmony · parity · allocation
redistribution
Sharing out again differently
- accessibilityEase of approach
- inclusivityPractice of welcoming all
- affirmative actionPrograms boosting marginalized representation
disparity · privilege · underprivileged · empowerment · diversity · discrimination · reparations · social mobility · disadvantaged · systemic
pale
Lacking color intensity
porcelain · rosy · creamy · peaches-and-cream · unblemished · clear · radiant · luminous · delicate · blonde
mercy
Compassion toward offenders
- leniencyMildness in punishment
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- amnestyGroup pardon from authorities
reprieve · grace · compassion · pardon · commutation · mitigation · forbearance · indulgence · absolution · second chance
good sport
Person accepting outcomes cheerfully
camaraderie · gentlemanly · competition · decency · dignity · honor · magnanimity · graciousness · handshake · etiquette
rectitude
Moral straightness
- righteousnessMoral correctness or virtue
- decencyMoral appropriateness in behavior
- conscientiousnessCareful attention to duty
scrupulousness · ethical · principled · just · honorable · incorruptibility
- social conceptssociety, community, equality, justice, rights
- valuesvalue, honesty, worth, morals, good
- ethical educationvalues, morals, ethics, character, integrity
- moral lessonsfable, parable, proverb, golden rule, cautionary tale
- moral valuesduty, responsibility, honor, integrity, loyalty
- moral virtuesvirtues, honesty, righteousness, integrity, virtue
fairnessunfairness
Unjust or biased treatment
injustice · inequity · partiality · bias · discrimination
fairnessugliness
Displeasing appearance quality
unattractiveness · homeliness · plainness · unsightliness · hideousness
- in fairnessWith balanced consideration
- workplace fairnessJust treatment on the job
- economic fairnessJust distribution of resources
- pay fairnessJust distribution of wages
- fundamental fairnessMinimal standard of justice
- legal fairnessImpartial judicial treatment