fair play

noun

1. just and honorable treatment, action, or conduct:

   The political campaign was notably lacking in fair play.

fair play

noun

1. an established standard of decency, honesty, etc
2. abidance by this standard

Word History and Origins

Origin of fair play¹

First recorded in 1585–95

Idioms and Phrases

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 .

Example Sentences

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.

From FiveThirtyEight

On the PrimeDice app, you don’t need to worry about fair play.

From 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.

From 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.

From 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.

From The Daily Beast

There was no direct translation in China for the British sense of fair play that went hand in hand with sport.

From The 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?

From The Daily Beast

Together, we discovered that a free market only thrives when there are rules to ensure competition and fair play.

From The Daily Beast

So fair play to Kate for not taking any chances with the wellbeing of the future king or queen.

From The Daily Beast

He is a believer in fair play and seldom starts out of his own accord to make anyone trouble.

From Project Gutenberg

There may be a sort of inverted vanity in refusing fair play to a power, on that ground.

From Project Gutenberg

In your love of justice; in your love of Ireland; in your love of honesty and fair play, I place my confidence.

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg

They were ready to fight for their rights and squeal their protests for fair play before they were an hour old.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• civil rights
• coordination
• equal opportunity
• fairness
• identity
• impartiality
• parity
• tolerance