Exhibition vs. Fair: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on October 5, 2023
An exhibition is a display or presentation of works or items, while a fair is a gathering for entertainment, trade, or competition.
Key Differences
An exhibition is primarily a showcase. It is designed to display or introduce a collection of items, such as artwork, artifacts, or even technological innovations, to an audience. This format often prioritizes aesthetics and educational content. A fair, on the other hand, can be multi-faceted, embracing trade, entertainment, and sometimes competition. It often brings together vendors, performers, and diverse activities in a communal setting.
One can visit an art exhibition to appreciate paintings, sculptures, and other artistic endeavors. Such events are often hosted in galleries or museums. A fair, conversely, might be an open-air event, perhaps in a park or dedicated ground, featuring stalls, rides, and shows. Here, people engage in buying, selling, and partaking in various entertainments.
Exhibitions often have a thematic coherence. For instance, an exhibition might center around a particular artist, historical period, or a specific theme. They seek to educate or provoke thought. Fairs, however, offer a broader range of experiences. From agricultural displays to amusement rides, from food stalls to craft vendors, a fair provides a more holistic experience.
While the term 'exhibition' predominantly connotes a serious, often curated display, 'fair' implies festivity and diverse attractions. However, there are overlaps. Trade exhibitions or expos can resemble fairs in their bustling energy and variety of stalls. Similarly, some fairs, like book fairs, might focus intensely on a single theme, akin to exhibitions.
Comparison Chart
Primary Purpose
Display or presentation of items.
Gathering for entertainment, trade, or competition.
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Setting
Often indoors, like galleries or convention centers.
Typically open-air, in parks or fairgrounds.
Focus
Thematic and curated.
Diverse attractions and activities.
Duration
Can be short-term or long-term.
Generally short-term, seasonal events.
Common Themes
Art, history, technology, etc.
Agriculture, entertainment, trade, etc.
Exhibition and Fair Definitions
Exhibition
A public display of art or items.
The museum held an exhibition of ancient relics.
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Fair
A gathering for the sale of goods.
The craft fair attracted local artisans.
Exhibition
A public show of a specific skill or activity.
She gave an exhibition of her gymnastic talents.
Fair
A periodic gathering for trade.
Merchants from afar came to the annual trade fair.
Exhibition
A deliberate display or showcase.
The event was more of an exhibition than a competition.
Fair
An exhibition for competition and display in various fields.
She won a blue ribbon at the science fair.
Exhibition
A thematic collection presented to an audience.
The photography exhibition drew large crowds.
Fair
A fun-filled event with rides and games.
Kids eagerly await the carnival fair every summer.
Exhibition
The act or an instance of exhibiting.
Fair
Of pleasing appearance, especially because of a pure or fresh quality; comely.
Exhibition
Something exhibited; an exhibit.
Fair
Light in color, especially blond
Fair hair.
Exhibition
A large-scale public showing, as of art objects or industrial or agricultural products.
Fair
Of light complexion
Fair skin.
Exhibition
Chiefly British A grant given to a scholar by a school or university.
Fair
Free of clouds or storms; clear and sunny
Fair skies.
Exhibition
An instance of exhibiting, or something exhibited.
Fair
Free of blemishes or stains; clean and pure
One's fair name.
Exhibition
A large-scale public showing of objects or products.
There was an art exhibition on in the town hall.
A boat exhibition
Fair
Promising; likely
We're in a fair way to succeed.
Exhibition
A public display, intentional or otherwise, generally characterised as negative, a shameful exhibition or a disgusting exhibition
Fair
Having or exhibiting a disposition that is free of favoritism or bias; impartial
A fair mediator.
Exhibition
A demonstration of personal skill or feelings.
Fair
Just to all parties; equitable
A compromise that is fair to both factions.
Exhibition
(UK) A financial award or prize given to a student (who becomes an exhibitioner) by a school or university, usually on the basis of academic merit.
Fair
Being in accordance with relative merit or significance
She wanted to receive her fair share of the proceeds.
Exhibition
(sports) A game which does not impact the standings for any major cup or competition.
Fair
Consistent with rules, logic, or ethics
A fair tactic.
Exhibition
The act of exhibiting for inspection, or of holding forth to view; manifestation; display.
Fair
Moderately good; acceptable or satisfactory
Gave only a fair performance of the play.
In fair health.
Exhibition
That which is exhibited, held forth, or displayed; also, any public show; a display of works of art, or of feats of skill, or of oratorical or dramatic ability; as, an exhibition of animals; an exhibition of pictures, statues, etc.; an industrial exhibition.
Fair
Superficially true or appealing; specious
Don't trust his fair promises.
Exhibition
Sustenance; maintenance; allowance, esp. for meat and drink; pension.
What maintenance he from his friends receives,Like exhibition thou shalt have from me.
I have given more exhibitions to scholars, in my days, than to the priests.
Fair
Lawful to hunt or attack
Fair game.
Exhibition
The act of administering a remedy.
Fair
(Archaic) Free of all obstacles.
Exhibition
The act of exhibiting;
A remarkable exhibition of musicianship
Fair
In a proper or legal manner
Playing fair.
Exhibition
A collection of things (goods or works of art etc.) for public display
Fair
Directly; straight
A blow caught fair in the stomach.
Exhibition
An organized presentation of a selection of items.
The tech exhibition showcased the latest innovations.
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 with stalls, entertainment, and activities.
The county fair is this weekend.
FAQs
Can an exhibition be interactive?
Yes, especially in cases like science or tech exhibitions.
Are all exhibitions open to the public?
Most are, but some might be private or require tickets.
What's a typical feature of a fair?
Stalls, rides, games, and entertainment.
What's a notable type of fair?
The Renaissance fair, celebrating medieval culture.
Can an exhibition be digital?
Yes, online or virtual exhibitions have become popular.
What's the main purpose of an exhibition?
To display or present a collection of items or works.
How long can an exhibition last?
It varies, from a day to several months.
Is a carnival similar to a fair?
Yes, a carnival is a type of fair with rides and entertainment.
Are fairs usually free?
Some are, but many charge an entry fee or fees for certain attractions.
Can a fair be indoors?
While often outdoors, fairs can be held indoors, especially trade fairs.
How are exhibitions usually advertised?
Through media, flyers, and online platforms.
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.
