fair game

noun

Actions permissible by the rules.

“The referee ruled the unprecedented play fair game.”

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Meanings

nounfair game (uncountable)
  1. idiomaticuncountableActions permissible by the rules.

    The referee ruled the unprecedented play fair game.

    1 more example

    Pretending to be slow is fair game. Pretending to be injured is not.

  2. idiomaticuncountableA goal or an object that may legitimately be sought.

    After the middle sister's call from a friend's house, her slice of cake was fair game.

  3. idiomaticuncountableAn acceptable subject or target for criticism, scrutiny, mockery, or attack.

    Anyone running for office is fair game for criticism.

    1 more example

    She's fair game, Joe. It's always open season on princesses.

    1953, Dalton Trumbo, Ian McLellan Hunter, John Dighton, Roman Holiday, spoken by Irving Radovich (Eddie Albert)
  4. uncountableUsed other than figuratively or idiomatically: see fair, game.: a game that is fair, that does not involve cheating, etc.

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence

Similar
preyquarrytarget
Broader
victim
Also see
preyquarrytarget

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

French cible légitime
  • cible légitimea goal or an object that may legitimately be sought
German Freiwild
  • Freiwilda goal or an object that may legitimately be sought
Hungarian szabad préda
  • szabad prédaa goal or an object that may legitimately be sought
Spanish blanco legítimo
  • blanco legítimoa goal or an object that may legitimately be sought
Cite this entry
APA

fair game. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fair%20game

MLA

“fair game.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fair%20game. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “fair game,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fair%20game.

Source: fair game on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.