fare
FAIR
/feə(r)/
The money paid for a journey on public transport such as a bus, train, or taxi.
Refers specifically to ticket costs for transport services, not goods or general entry fees.
The story behind the word. Derived from Old English 'faran', meaning 'to travel or go'. Over centuries, the noun evolved from meaning a journey itself to the money paid for making that journey.
Word relationships
- ticket price: 'Ticket price' specifies the purchase price of physical or digital entry passes.
- fine: A 'fine' is a financial penalty for breaking rules, whereas a 'fare' is a legitimate service charge.
Commonly confused with
- fair: 'Fair' means just or reasonable, or an event; 'fare' is transport payment.
Collocations
- bus fare
- train fare
- pay the fare
- exact fare
Example sentences
- "Passengers must tap their smart cards to pay the correct bus fare." Paying transport costs
- "The city council announced a small increase in subway fares starting next month." Price increases
Memory hook
It is FAIR to pay your FARE when riding public transit. Fare pays for how far you travel.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'fair' (just, light-complexioned) or 'fee' (charged for professional services like lawyers or doctors).
Fun facts
- 'Farewell' literally translates to 'may you travel well'.
Also appears in
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