Phrase guide

fair and square

adj · adv · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adj

Meaning 1

Unquestionably fair.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adv

Meaning 2

Totally fairly and undoubtedly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • We won the game fair and square.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adv

Meaning 3

Within the applicable rules.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adv

Meaning 4

In all fairness; equitably.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

18 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 光明正大地 (guāngmíngzhèngdà de) — fairly and undoubtedly
  • Finnish: reilusti ja selvästi — fairly and undoubtedly
  • French: à la loyale — fairly and undoubtedly
  • French: à la régulière — fairly and undoubtedly
  • Japanese: 公明正大 (kōmeiseidai) — fairly and undoubtedly
  • Japanese: 堂々と (dōdō to) — fairly and undoubtedly
  • Portuguese: de forma justa — fairly and undoubtedly
  • Spanish: en buena lid — fairly and undoubtedly
  • Swedish: rätt och riktig — fairly and undoubtedly
  • Chinese Mandarin: 光明正大地 (guāngmíngzhèngdà de) — within the applicable rules
  • Finnish: sääntöjen puitteissa — within the applicable rules
  • French: à la loyale — within the applicable rules
  • French: à la régulière — within the applicable rules
  • Japanese: 不正なく (fusei naku) — within the applicable rules
  • Portuguese: justissimamente — within the applicable rules
  • Spanish: justamente — within the applicable rules
  • Spanish: con todas las de la ley — within the applicable rules
  • Swedish: rätt och riktig — within the applicable rules