fairly

adverb

fair·​ly ˈfer-lē 

1

: in a handsome manner

a table fairly set

2

obsolete

a

: in a gentle manner : quietly

b

: in a courteous manner

3

: so to speak : nearly, practically

fairly bursting with pride

4

a

: in a proper or legal manner

fairly priced stocks

b

: without bias or distortion : impartially

a story told fairly and objectively

5

: to a full degree or extent : plainly, distinctly

had fairly caught sight of him

6

: rather sense 5, moderately

a fairly easy job

Synonyms

• enough
• kindly [chiefly Southern]
• kind of
• like
• moderately
• more or less
• pretty
• quite
• rather
• relatively
• something
• somewhat
• sort of

Examples of fairly in a Sentence

It's a fairly common disease.

I told the story as fairly as possible.

He reports fairly on the issues.

He beat me fairly and squarely.

Recent Examples on the Web

Although Ariès has been criticized, sometimes fairly, for an overreliance on literary sources and an idealization of the past, his core conclusion holds true: there was a social regularity—and nearness—to death that’s largely foreign to many today. —Cody Delistraty, The New Yorker, 22 June 2024

Gemini Playful, quick-moving Gemini is also fairly incompatible with Cancer. —Katie Mannion, Peoplemag, 22 June 2024

The common belief that the system is basically run fairly has been an anchor preventing our nation from falling into a state of anarchy. —Kenneth S. Birnbaum, Baltimore Sun, 21 June 2024

The last 20 minutes of the body-cam footage are fairly uneventful — more doors are opened and rooms searched. —Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 21 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

fairly

adverb

fair·​ly ˈfa(ə)r-lē 

ˈfe(ə)r-

1

: in a favorable manner

fairly situated

2

: in a manner of speaking : nearly

fairly bursting with pride

3

: in a fair manner : justly

treat each person fairly

4

: for the most part : rather

a fairly easy job