Dictionary

in fairness en · ADP

Meanings

1. As a counterpoint; for the sake of balance; to lessen the harm.
   • Chelsea were given a debatable penalty for Eden Hazard to make it 2-1 in the first period of extra-time and it was another night of repeat offending from Costa. Mourinho, in fairness, focused on his team’s shortcomings rather than any misplaced sense of injustice and even called for Uefa to let Ibrahimovic off. 2015 March 12, Daniel Taylor, “Chelsea out of Champions League after Thiago Silva sends 10-man PSG through on away goals”, in The Guardian (London):
   • The chap opposite seems to be trying to pull a fast one, and having seen the guard is trying to buy a ticket online... but doesn't succeed. The guard helpfully sells him one, but not quite at the price of one purchased in advance. In fairness he doesn't kick off, nor does the guard treat him like some common criminal. It's a fair cop - or should that be a fare cop? 2024 April 17, “Rural railways: do they deliver?”, in RAIL, number 1007, page 57:

Forms

Synonyms

to be fair

Translations (11)

fi kohtuuden nimissä (for the sake of balance) · fi rehellisyyden nimissä (for the sake of balance) · fr pour sa défense (for the sake of balance) · ru справедливости ради (for the sake of balance) · fi tasapuolisuuden nimissä (for the sake of balance) · hu az igazság kedvéért (for the sake of balance) · de gerechterweise (for the sake of balance) · pl gwoli sprawiedliwości (for the sake of balance) · de fairerweise (for the sake of balance) · fi kylläkin (for the sake of balance) · hu az igazat megvallva (for the sake of balance)