Fair vs. Carnival: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on October 7, 2023
A "Fair" is often an event showcasing agricultural or commercial goods, while a "Carnival" is a festive gathering with entertainment, rides, and games.
Key Differences
The term "Fair" is generally associated with a gathering that exhibits products, livestock, or other items, primarily for commercial or agricultural reasons. Such events may have roots in agricultural traditions, where farmers showcase and trade their best produce or livestock. "Carnival", on the other hand, evokes images of festivity, parades, and revelry, and often includes various amusement rides, games, and other entertainment.
"Fairs" often serve dual purposes; while they provide entertainment, they're also venues for business, networking, or showcasing skills, from handicrafts to technological innovations. "Carnivals" primarily focus on entertainment and are more associated with fun and leisure, featuring vibrant parades, colorful costumes, and perhaps even masquerades.
In many regions, a "Fair" can be an annual event, integral to the community, bringing together locals for trade, competition, and celebration. "Carnivals" too can be annual affairs, but their origins may trace back to religious or cultural celebrations, like the famous Carnival of Rio de Janeiro, which precedes Lent.
It's also noteworthy that while both "Fairs" and "Carnivals" offer entertainment like rides or games, their central themes differ. A "Fair" might prioritize a livestock show, product launches, or competitions, whereas a "Carnival" emphasizes festive activities, dances, and general revelry.
Comparison Chart
Primary Purpose
Showcase of goods, livestock, or skills.
Festive gathering focused on entertainment.
ADVERTISEMENT
Origins
Agricultural or commercial events.
Religious or cultural celebrations.
Entertainment
Mix of business and leisure activities.
Amusement rides, games, parades, dances.
Frequency
Often annual, tied to seasons or harvests.
Can be annual, linked to religious or cultural dates.
Examples
State fair, trade fair.
Rio Carnival, Mardi Gras.
Fair and Carnival Definitions
Fair
A gathering for amusement or fun, with rides and games.
We had a blast at the fair's roller coaster.
ADVERTISEMENT
Carnival
A traveling amusement show with rides and games.
Kids eagerly awaited the carnival's return to their town.
Fair
Just, equitable, or impartial.
It's only fair to give everyone an equal chance.
Carnival
A festive season with revelry, parades, and masquerades.
The city is bustling during the annual carnival.
Fair
Pleasing in appearance; attractive.
She has fair skin and blonde hair.
Carnival
A period of public revelry before Lent.
The streets come alive during the carnival season.
Fair
Of pleasing appearance, especially because of a pure or fresh quality; comely.
Carnival
An event marked by merrymaking and processions.
The school's carnival was a hit with all the students.
Fair
Light in color, especially blond
Fair hair.
Carnival
Often Carnival The period of merrymaking and feasting celebrated just before Lent.
Fair
Of light complexion
Fair skin.
Carnival
A traveling amusement show usually including rides, games, and sideshows.
Fair
Free of clouds or storms; clear and sunny
Fair skies.
Carnival
A festival or revel
Winter carnival.
Fair
Free of blemishes or stains; clean and pure
One's fair name.
Carnival
Any of a number of festivals held just before the beginning of Lent.
Carnival of Brazil
Venice Carnival
Fair
Promising; likely
We're in a fair way to succeed.
Carnival
A festive occasion marked by parades and sometimes special foods and other entertainment.
Fair
Having or exhibiting a disposition that is free of favoritism or bias; impartial
A fair mediator.
Carnival
(US) A traveling amusement park, called a funfair in British English.
We all got to ride the merry-go-round when they brought their carnival to town.
When the carnival came to town, every one wanted some cotton candy.
Fair
Just to all parties; equitable
A compromise that is fair to both factions.
Carnival
A festival celebrated with merriment and revelry in Roman Gatholic countries during the week before Lent, esp. at Rome and Naples, during a few days (three to ten) before Lent, ending with Shrove Tuesday.
The carnival at Venice is everywhere talked of.
Fair
Being in accordance with relative merit or significance
She wanted to receive her fair share of the proceeds.
Carnival
Any merrymaking, feasting, or masquerading, especially when overstepping the bounds of decorum; a time of riotous excess.
He saw the lean dogs beneath the wallHold o'er the dead their carnival
Fair
Consistent with rules, logic, or ethics
A fair tactic.
Carnival
A festival marked by merrymaking and processions
Fair
Moderately good; acceptable or satisfactory
Gave only a fair performance of the play.
In fair health.
Carnival
A frenetic disorganized (and often comic) disturbance suggestive of a circus or carnival;
It was so funny it was a circus
The whole occasion had a carnival atmosphere
Fair
Superficially true or appealing; specious
Don't trust his fair promises.
Carnival
A traveling show; having sideshows and rides and games of skill etc.
Fair
Lawful to hunt or attack
Fair game.
Carnival
A chaotic or debauched situation or event.
The party turned into a real carnival by midnight.
Fair
(Archaic) Free of all obstacles.
Fair
In a proper or legal manner
Playing fair.
Fair
Directly; straight
A blow caught fair in the stomach.
Fair
To join (pieces) so as to be smooth, even, or regular
Faired the aircraft's wing into the fuselage.
Fair
(Archaic) A beautiful or beloved woman.
Fair
(Obsolete) Loveliness; beauty.
Fair
A gathering for the buying and selling of goods, often held at a particular time and place; a market
We attended the annual book fair.
Fair
An exhibition of home or farm products and skills, usually with competitions and entertainments
My pumpkin won first prize at the county fair.
Fair
An exhibition intended to inform people about a product or business opportunity
A computer fair.
A job fair.
Fair
An event, usually for the benefit of a charity or public institution, including entertainment and the sale of goods; a bazaar
A church fair.
Fair
Beautiful, of a pleasing appearance, with a pure and fresh quality.
Monday's child is fair of face.
There was once a knight who wooed a fair young maid.
Fair
Unblemished (figuratively or literally); clean and pure; innocent.
One's fair name
After scratching out and replacing various words in the manuscript, he scribed a fair copy to send to the publisher.
Fair
Light in color, pale, particularly with regard to skin tone but also referring to blond hair.
She had fair hair and blue eyes.
Fair
Just, equitable.
He must be given a fair trial.
Fair
Adequate, reasonable, or decent, but not excellent.
Their performance has been only fair.
The patient was in a fair condition after some treatment.
Fair
Favorable to a ship's course.
Fair
Not overcast; cloudless; clear; pleasant; propitious; said of the sky, weather, or wind, etc.
A fair sky;
A fair day
Fair
Free from obstacles or hindrances; unobstructed; unencumbered; open; direct; said of a road, passage, etc.
A fair mark;
In fair sight;
A fair view
Fair
(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.
Fair
(baseball) Between the baselines.
Fair
Taken direct from an opponent's foot, without the ball touching the ground or another player.
Fair
Not a no ball.
Fair
(statistics) Of a coin or die, having equal chance of landing on any side, unbiased.
Fair
Something which is fair (in various senses of the adjective).
When will we learn to distinguish between the fair and the foul?
Fair
(obsolete) A woman, a member of the ‘fair sex’; also as a collective singular, women.
Fair
(obsolete) Fairness, beauty.
Fair
A fair woman; a sweetheart.
Fair
(obsolete) Good fortune; good luck.
Fair
A community gathering to celebrate and exhibit local achievements.
Fair
An event for public entertainment and trade, a market.
Fair
An event for professionals in a trade to learn of new products and do business, a trade fair.
Fair
A travelling amusement park (called a funfair in British English and a (travelling) carnival in US English).
Fair
(transitive) To smoothen or even a surface (especially a connection or junction on a surface).
Fair
(transitive) To bring into perfect alignment (especially about rivet holes when connecting structural members).
Fair
To make an animation smooth, removing any jerkiness.
Fair
(transitive) To construct or design with the aim of producing a smooth outline or reducing air drag or water resistance.
Fair
To make fair or beautiful.
Fair
Clearly, openly, frankly, civilly, honestly, favorably, auspiciously, agreeably
Fair
Free from spots, specks, dirt, or imperfection; unblemished; clean; pure.
A fair white linen cloth.
Fair
Pleasing to the eye; handsome; beautiful.
Who can not see many a fair French city, for one fair French made.
Fair
Without a dark hue; light; clear; as, a fair skin.
The northern people large and fair-complexioned.
Fair
Not overcast; cloudless; clear; pleasant; propitious; favorable; - said of the sky, weather, or wind, etc.; as, a fair sky; a fair day.
You wish fair winds may waft him over.
Fair
Free from obstacles or hindrances; unobstructed; unincumbered; open; direct; - said of a road, passage, etc.; as, a fair mark; in fair sight; a fair view.
The caliphs obtained a mighty empire, which was in a fair way to have enlarged.
Fair
Without sudden change of direction or curvature; smooth; flowing; - said of the figure of a vessel, and of surfaces, water lines, and other lines.
Fair
Characterized by frankness, honesty, impartiality, or candor; open; upright; free from suspicion or bias; equitable; just; - said of persons, character, or conduct; as, a fair man; fair dealing; a fair statement.
Fair
Pleasing; favorable; inspiring hope and confidence; - said of words, promises, etc.
When fair words and good counsel will not prevail on us, we must be frighted into our duty.
Fair
Distinct; legible; as, fair handwriting.
Fair
Free from any marked characteristic; average; middling; as, a fair specimen.
The news is very fair and good, my lord.
Fair
Clearly; openly; frankly; civilly; honestly; favorably; auspiciously; agreeably.
Fair
Fairness, beauty.
Fair
A fair woman; a sweetheart.
I have found out a gift for my fair.
Fair
Good fortune; good luck.
Now fair befall thee !
Fair
A gathering of buyers and sellers, assembled at a particular place with their merchandise at a stated or regular season, or by special appointment, for trade.
Fair
A festival, and sale of fancy articles. erc., usually for some charitable object; as, a Grand Army fair; a church fair.
Fair
A competitive exhibition of wares, farm products, etc., not primarily for purposes of sale; as, the Mechanics' fair; an agricultural fair.
Fair
An exhibition by a number of organizations, including governmental organizations, for the purpose of acquainting people with such organizations or their members, not primarily for commercial purposes; as, the 1939 World's Fair.
Meet me in St. Louis, LouisMeet me at the fairDon't tell me the lights are shiningAnyplace but there.
Fair
To make fair or beautiful.
Fairing the foul.
Fair
To make smooth and flowing, as a vessel's lines.
Fair
A traveling show; having sideshows and rides and games of skill etc.
Fair
Gathering of producers to promote business;
World fair
Trade fair
Book fair
Fair
A competitive exhibition of farm products;
She won a blue ribbon for her baking at the county fair
Fair
A sale of miscellany; often for charity;
The church bazaar
Fair
Join so that the external surfaces blend smoothly
Fair
Free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; or conforming with established standards or rules;
A fair referee
Fair deal
On a fair footing
A fair fight
By fair means or foul
Fair
Showing lack of favoritism;
The cold neutrality of an impartial judge
Fair
More than adequate in quality;
Fair work
Fair
Not excessive or extreme;
A fairish income
Reasonable prices
Fair
Visually appealing;
Our fair city
Fair
Very pleasing to the eye;
My bonny lass
There's a bonny bay beyond
A comely face
Young fair maidens
Fair
(of a baseball) hit between the foul lines;
He hit a fair ball over the third base bag
Fair
Of no exceptional quality or ability;
A novel of average merit
Only a fair performance of the sonata
In fair health
The caliber of the students has gone from mediocre to above average
The performance was middling at best
Fair
Attractively feminine;
The fair sex
Fair
(of a manuscript) having few alterations or corrections;
Fair copy
A clean manuscript
Fair
Free of clouds or rain;
Today will be fair and warm
Fair
(used of hair or skin) pale or light-colored;
A fair complexion
Fair
In conformity with the rules or laws and without fraud or cheating;
They played fairly
Fair
In a fair evenhanded manner;
Deal fairly with one another
Fair
An event for exhibiting and trading goods or livestock.
The county fair displays the best livestock from local farms.
Fair
A periodic gathering for the sale of goods.
The book fair will be held at the town square.
FAQs
Do "Fairs" always focus on trade or agriculture?
No, while many do, some fairs are purely for entertainment.
Is Mardi Gras a "Carnival"?
Yes, Mardi Gras is a type of carnival celebration.
Is a "Carnival" always religious in nature?
No, while some have religious origins, others are purely secular.
Are "Carnivals" always traveling events?
No, while some are traveling shows, others are fixed annual events.
Are "Fair" and "Carnival" synonyms?
Not quite. While both can be events with rides and games, their primary purposes often differ.
Can "Fair" refer to appearance?
Yes, "fair" can describe someone with light skin or hair.
Is "Fair" ever used in a legal context?
Yes, as in "fair trial" or "fair play", implying justice or equity.
Does every culture have "Carnivals"?
Many do, but the nature and reason for celebration can vary widely.
Can "Fair" also mean unbiased?
Yes, as in "a fair judgment".
How long do "Fairs" usually last?
It varies, from a day to several weeks.
Do "Fairs" only happen outdoors?
Most are outdoors, but some, like trade fairs, can be indoors.
Are "State Fairs" only in the USA?
The term is common in the USA, but similar events exist worldwide.
Are "Carnivals" usually longer than "Fairs"?
Not necessarily; the duration of both can vary widely.
Can both "Fairs" and "Carnivals" have rides?
Yes, both can feature amusement rides.
Is a "job fair" an amusement event?
No, it's an event for companies to meet potential employees.
Are "Carnivals" only in warmer climates?
No, they can be found worldwide, regardless of climate.
Can "Carnival" also be used metaphorically?
Yes, it can describe a chaotic situation or event.
Is "Carnival" derived from Latin?
Yes, from "carnelevare", meaning "to remove meat", referencing Lent.
Can a "Fair" also showcase arts and crafts?
Yes, many fairs highlight local artisans and their works.
What's the most famous "Carnival" in the world?
The Carnival of Rio de Janeiro is arguably the most famous.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
