The difference between Fair and Pretty

When used as nouns, fair means something which is fair (in various senses of the adjective), whereas pretty means a pretty person.

When used as adverbs, fair means clearly, openly, frankly, civilly, honestly, favorably, auspiciously, agreeably, whereas pretty means somewhat, fairly, quite.

When used as verbs, fair means to smoothen or even a surface (especially a connection or junction on a surface), whereas pretty means to make pretty.

When used as adjectives, fair means beautiful, of a pleasing appearance, with a pure and fresh quality, whereas pretty means pleasant in sight or other senses.


check bellow for the other definitions of Fair and Pretty

  1. Fair as an adjective (literary, _, or, _, archaic):

    Beautiful, of a pleasing appearance, with a pure and fresh quality.

    Examples:

    "Monday's child is fair of face."

    "There was once a knight who wooed a fair young maid."

  2. Fair as an adjective:

    Unblemished (figuratively or literally); clean and pure; innocent.

    Examples:

    "one's fair name"

    "After scratching out and replacing various words in the manuscript, he scribed a fair copy to send to the publisher."

  3. Fair as an adjective:

    Light in color, pale, particularly as regards skin tone but also referring to blond hair.

    Examples:

    "She had fair hair and blue eyes."

  4. Fair as an adjective:

    Just, equitable.

    Examples:

    "He must be given a fair trial."

  5. Fair as an adjective:

    Adequate, reasonable, or decent.

    Examples:

    "The patient was in a fair condition after some treatment."

  6. Fair as an adjective (nautical, of a wind):

    Favorable to a ship's course.

  7. Fair as an adjective:

    Not overcast; cloudless; clear; pleasant; propitious; said of the sky, weather, or wind, etc.

    Examples:

    "a fair sky;  a fair day"

  8. Fair as an adjective:

    Free from obstacles or hindrances; unobstructed; unencumbered; open; direct; said of a road, passage, etc.

    Examples:

    "a fair mark;  in fair sight;  a fair view"

  9. Fair as an adjective (shipbuilding):

    Without sudden change of direction or curvature; smooth; flowing; said of the figure of a vessel, and of surfaces, water lines, and other lines.

  10. Fair as an adjective (baseball):

    Between the baselines.

  11. Fair as an adjective (rugby, of a catch):

    Taken direct from an opponent's foot, without the ball touching the ground or another player.

  12. Fair as an adjective (cricket, of a ball delivered by the bowler):

    Not a no-ball.

  1. Fair as a noun:

    Something which is fair (in various senses of the adjective).

    Examples:

    "When will we learn to distinguish between the fair and the foul?"

  2. Fair as a noun (obsolete):

    A woman, a member of the ‘fair sex'; also as a collective singular, women.

  3. Fair as a noun (obsolete):

    Fairness, beauty.

    Examples:

    "rfquotek Shakespeare"

  4. Fair as a noun:

    A fair woman; a sweetheart.

  5. Fair as a noun (obsolete):

    Good fortune; good luck.

  1. Fair as a verb:

    To smoothen or even a surface (especially a connection or junction on a surface).

  2. Fair as a verb:

    To bring into perfect alignment (especially about rivet holes when connecting structural members).

  3. Fair as a verb:

    To construct or design a structure whose primary function is to produce a smooth outline or reduce air drag or water resistance.

  4. Fair as a verb (obsolete):

    To make fair or beautiful.

  1. Fair as an adverb:

    clearly, openly, frankly, civilly, honestly, favorably, auspiciously, agreeably

  1. Fair as a noun:

    A community gathering to celebrate and exhibit local achievements.

  2. Fair as a noun:

    An event for public entertainment and trade, a market.

  3. Fair as a noun:

    An event for professionals in a trade to learn of new products and do business, a trade fair.

  4. Fair as a noun:

    A travelling amusement park (called a funfair in British English and a (travelling) carnival in US English).

  1. Pretty as an adjective:

    Pleasant in sight or other senses; attractive, especially of women or children.

  2. Pretty as an adjective:

    Of objects or things: nice-looking, appealing.

  3. Pretty as an adjective (often, _, pejorative):

    Fine-looking; only superficially attractive; initially appealing but having little substance; see petty.

  4. Pretty as an adjective:

    Cunning; clever, skilful.

  5. Pretty as an adjective (dated):

    Moderately large; considerable.

  6. Pretty as an adjective (dated):

    Excellent, commendable, pleasing; fitting or proper (of actions, thoughts etc.).

  7. Pretty as an adjective (ironic):

    Awkward, unpleasant.

  1. Pretty as an adverb:

    Somewhat, fairly, quite; sometimes also (by meiosis) very.

  2. Pretty as an adverb (dialect):

    Prettily, in a pretty manner.

  1. Pretty as a noun:

    A pretty person; a term of address to a pretty person.

  2. Pretty as a noun:

    Something that is pretty.

    Examples:

    "We'll stop at the knife store a look at the sharp pretties."

  1. Pretty as a verb:

    To make pretty; to beautify