fair play

noun

: equitable or impartial treatment : justice
… a country that reveres fair play both on the sports field and off …—Bob Johnstone
Turnabout is fair play, of course: Gossips should get gossiped about.—Andrew Ferguson

Examples of fair play in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Eligibility rules are also intended to promote fair play and fair competition, so that schools, along with coaches and athletes, play by the same set of rules. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 21 Oct. 2026 But like City, PSG have also failed UEFA’s financial fair play rules on multiple occasions. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2026 With that as an economic model, morality and fair play was nonsense. — Michael Schneider, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026 Our strategy is focused on ‘fair play’, giving the next generation fair access and a leg up in life. — Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fair play

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1500, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fair play was circa 1500

Rhymes for fair play

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Browse Nearby Words

fairntickle
fair play
fair shake
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fair play.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fair%20play. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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