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

In Uefa's fair play rankings for the behaviour of supporters for the 2024-25 season, England ranked in sixth with 241 matches played.

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The Premier League will from next season move to a new system of financial fair play based on squad costs.

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"I've got that opportunity at this moment and Pierce got his opportunity when I was injured and took it and rightly so, fair play to him," he added.

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"It's unbelievable journalism to get that much information on the front page out of a bloke pushing a suitcase through an airport, so fair play," said Stokes.

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"Professional athletes, like Luis Leandro Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase de la Cruz, hold a position of trust -- not only with their teammates and their professional leagues, but with fans who believe in fair play," US attorney Joseph Nocella said.

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Related Words

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