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Glossary

Fair

2 meanings across 2 domains

Cross-government

Definition

Example: Can you fair this before I send it up for clearance?

Also known as: fair this, fair the draft, fair the paper, fairing, faired

Context: Usage varies by agency. This informal workplace verb appears to derive from the older administrative term “fair copy”, meaning a clean copy prepared from a draft after corrections or amendments.

Where you may encounter this

Practitioner confirmed Checked 2026-08-16

Digital and Technology

Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable

Principles for managing data so that it can be discovered, accessed under appropriate conditions, combined across systems and reused.

Example: Structure the dataset and metadata around the FAIR principles so that other teams can discover and reuse them.

Context: FAIR is also an ordinary English word. In Lingo, the separate Fair entry covers the public-service workplace usage meaning to proofread and tidy a draft.

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