Exhibition vs. Fair: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Exhibition is a display or demonstration of particular items, often for public viewing. Fair is a gathering, often outdoors, for entertainment, trade, and amusement, including rides, food, and stalls.
Key Differences
An exhibition is primarily focused on the display of items, artworks, or information, often with an educational or cultural emphasis. In contrast, a fair is a larger event, emphasizing entertainment, commercial activities, and community engagement.
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Exhibitions are usually held indoors in galleries, museums, or convention centers and have a more formal or educational atmosphere. Fairs are typically outdoor events with a festive, casual atmosphere, often featuring amusement rides and games.
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Exhibitions can last from a few days to several months, focusing on a specific theme or collection. Fairs usually occur annually or seasonally and are more transient, lasting for a few days to a couple of weeks.
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Exhibitions attract visitors interested in the specific subject matter or artistic works displayed, often catering to a more targeted audience. Fairs draw a diverse crowd, including families and individuals seeking leisure activities, food, and shopping.
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Exhibitions are curated with a focus on presentation, educational value, and thematic coherence. Fairs are organized with a variety of attractions, vendors, and entertainment options, prioritizing visitor engagement and fun.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Focus
Display of items, art, or information
Entertainment, trade, and community activities
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Organizational Aim
Educational, thematic presentation
Leisure, commercial, and social engagement
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Exhibition and Fair Definitions
Exhibition
An organized display in a museum or gallery.
The historical exhibition attracted many history enthusiasts.
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Fair
A gathering for entertainment, food, and trade.
The county fair had an amazing array of food stalls.
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Exhibition
A public display of art or items.
The art exhibition showcased modern sculptures.
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Fair
A marketplace with various vendors and stalls.
Local artisans displayed their crafts at the fair.
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Exhibition
A temporary display of collections or information.
The annual car exhibition displayed vintage models.
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Fair
Of pleasing appearance, especially because of a pure or fresh quality; comely.
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Exhibition
A large-scale public showing, as of art objects or industrial or agricultural products.
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Exhibition
Chiefly British A grant given to a scholar by a school or university.
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Exhibition
A large-scale public showing of objects or products.
There was an art exhibition on in the town hall.
A boat exhibition
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Fair
Having or exhibiting a disposition that is free of favoritism or bias; impartial
A fair mediator.
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Exhibition
A public display, intentional or otherwise, generally characterised as negative, a shameful exhibition or a disgusting exhibition
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Fair
Just to all parties; equitable
A compromise that is fair to both factions.
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Fair
Being in accordance with relative merit or significance
She wanted to receive her fair share of the proceeds.
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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.
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Exhibition
(sports) A game which does not impact the standings for any major cup or competition.
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Fair
Moderately good; acceptable or satisfactory
Gave only a fair performance of the play.
In fair health.
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Exhibition
The act of exhibiting for inspection, or of holding forth to view; manifestation; display.
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Fair
Superficially true or appealing; specious
Don't trust his fair promises.
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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.
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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.
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Exhibition
A collection of things (goods or works of art etc.) for public display
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Fair
To join (pieces) so as to be smooth, even, or regular
Faired the aircraft's wing into the fuselage.
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Exhibition
A presentation or demonstration of a specific theme.
The science exhibition highlighted renewable energy innovations.
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Exhibition
A showcase of works by a particular artist or group.
The photography exhibition featured stunning wildlife images.
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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.
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Fair
An exhibition of home or farm products and skills, usually with competitions and entertainments
My pumpkin won first prize at the county fair.
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Fair
An exhibition intended to inform people about a product or business opportunity
A computer fair.
A job fair.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Fair
Light in color, pale, particularly with regard to skin tone but also referring to blond hair.
She had fair hair and blue eyes.
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Fair
Adequate, reasonable, or decent, but not excellent.
Their performance has been only fair.
The patient was in a fair condition after some treatment.
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Fair
Not overcast; cloudless; clear; pleasant; propitious; said of the sky, weather, or wind, etc.
A fair sky;
A fair day
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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
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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.
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Fair
Taken direct from an opponent's foot, without the ball touching the ground or another player.
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Fair
(statistics) Of a coin or die, having equal chance of landing on any side, unbiased.
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Fair
Something which is fair (in various senses of the adjective).
When will we learn to distinguish between the fair and the foul?
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Fair
(obsolete) A woman, a member of the ‘fair sex’; also as a collective singular, women.
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Fair
An event for professionals in a trade to learn of new products and do business, a trade fair.
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Fair
A travelling amusement park (called a funfair in British English and a (travelling) carnival in US English).
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Fair
(transitive) To smoothen or even a surface (especially a connection or junction on a surface).
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Fair
(transitive) To bring into perfect alignment (especially about rivet holes when connecting structural members).
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Fair
(transitive) To construct or design with the aim of producing a smooth outline or reducing air drag or water resistance.
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Fair
Clearly, openly, frankly, civilly, honestly, favorably, auspiciously, agreeably
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Fair
Free from spots, specks, dirt, or imperfection; unblemished; clean; pure.
A fair white linen cloth.
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Fair
Pleasing to the eye; handsome; beautiful.
Who can not see many a fair French city, for one fair French made.
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Fair
Without a dark hue; light; clear; as, a fair skin.
The northern people large and fair-complexioned.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Fair
Free from any marked characteristic; average; middling; as, a fair specimen.
The news is very fair and good, my lord.
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Fair
Clearly; openly; frankly; civilly; honestly; favorably; auspiciously; agreeably.
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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.
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Fair
A festival, and sale of fancy articles. erc., usually for some charitable object; as, a Grand Army fair; a church fair.
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Fair
A competitive exhibition of wares, farm products, etc., not primarily for purposes of sale; as, the Mechanics' fair; an agricultural fair.
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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.
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Fair
Gathering of producers to promote business;
World fair
Trade fair
Book fair
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Fair
A competitive exhibition of farm products;
She won a blue ribbon for her baking at the county fair
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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
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Fair
Very pleasing to the eye;
My bonny lass
There's a bonny bay beyond
A comely face
Young fair maidens
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Fair
(of a baseball) hit between the foul lines;
He hit a fair ball over the third base bag
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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
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Fair
(of a manuscript) having few alterations or corrections;
Fair copy
A clean manuscript
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Fair
In conformity with the rules or laws and without fraud or cheating;
They played fairly
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Fair
An outdoor event with rides and games.
Children were excited about the rides at the fair.
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Fair
A community event with entertainment and activities.
The fair included live music and dance performances.
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Fair
An annual event with cultural or seasonal themes.
The spring fair celebrated local agricultural produce.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
What defines a fair?
A festive gathering for entertainment, trade, and community activities.
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Are exhibitions educational?
Often, they aim to inform and educate viewers.
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Can exhibitions be interactive?
Some include interactive elements to engage visitors.
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Are fairs suitable for families?
Yes, fairs often cater to people of all ages.
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Do exhibitions focus on a theme?
Most are centered around a specific theme or topic.
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What types of food are at fairs?
Fairs typically have a wide range of food stalls.
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Are exhibitions ticketed events?
Many require tickets or have an entry fee.
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What activities are common at fairs?
Rides, games, food, and live performances.
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Are pets allowed at fairs?
It varies; some may allow pets, others might not.
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Are fairs good for local businesses?
Yes, they can provide a platform for local vendors.
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How long do exhibitions last?
Duration varies, from a few days to several months.
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Do fairs have cultural significance?
Many are rooted in local traditions and cultural celebrations.
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Do exhibitions feature new artists?
Many showcase emerging as well as established artists.
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Can exhibitions be held outdoors?
While less common, some are held outside.
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Is there merchandise at fairs?
Yes, fairs often have stalls selling various goods.
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Can exhibitions be private?
Some are open to specific groups or by invitation.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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