Fairly

Fairly is an English adverb with two main senses. It can mean to a moderate extent, indicating that something is not extreme but reasonably so (for example, “The movie was fairly interesting” or “The road is fairly crowded this morning”). It can also mean in a fair or just manner, describing actions or judgments that are impartial or proper (for example, “Treat people fairly” or “Play fair and square”).

Etymology and form: Fairly derives from the adjective fair, which has senses related to beauty, brightness, and justice. The adverbial suffix -ly formed the word into an adverb in Middle English, producing the current double sense that persists in modern usage.

Usage notes: In everyday speech, the first sense is common and typically less strong than “quite” or “very.” The second sense uses fairly to convey fairness or impartiality, akin to “justly” or “impartially.” Context can affect tone: in formal writing, alternatives such as “reasonably” or “justly” may be clearer. In some varieties of English, “fairly” may also carry a stronger, nearly equivalent sense to “quite” when used with evaluative adjectives, so the meaning can be context-dependent.

See also: fair, fairness, unfair, unbiased, justice.