fairground

American  

[fair-ground] / ˈfɛərˌgraʊnd /

noun

1. Often fairgrounds. a place where fairs, horse races, etc., are held; in the U.S. usually an area set aside by a city, county, or state for an annual fair and often containing exhibition buildings.

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fairground British  

/ ˈfɛəˌɡraʊnd /

noun

1. an open space used for a fair or exhibition

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Etymology

Origin of fairground

First recorded in 1735–45; fair ² + ground ¹

Explanation

A fairground is an open outdoor area where a fair, circus, or some other exhibition sets up temporarily. Many county fairs are put on at the same fairground for a week or two each summer. Many funnel cakes are eaten there. Most fairgrounds have space for rides like Ferris wheels and bumper cars. Agricultural fairs might also have exhibit areas where visitors can see animals, handmade items, baked goods, giant watermelons, and other impressive produce. A traveling circus or carnival might also set up on fairground. The central section of a fairground is usually called a "midway."

Example Sentences

On the night of the quinceañera in Alice, Pulido made a second stop at a birthday party at the Jim Wells County fairground.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

A fairground train carrying children made its way through the crowd, its Christmas soundtrack drowned out by the supportive honks of cars.

From Barron's • Dec. 23, 2025

A fairground worker who died at a seaside carnival will be loved endlessly, his family have said.

From BBC • Aug. 24, 2025

In the stream on Sunday, a man was seen asking Emiru, real name Emily Schunk, for her phone number after the three streamers got off a fairground ride.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2025

I'd've handed it in to the fairground man but it flipped open to show a photo of Ross Wilcox and Dawn Madden.

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell

Related Words

• course
• court
• golf course
• green
• park
• range
• stadium
• terrain
• track
• turf