fare
FAIR
/fɛər/
The money a passenger pays for traveling on public transport, in a taxi, or via rideshare.
Refers specifically to the monetary cost of a journey, not goods purchased.
The story behind the word. From Old English 'faran' meaning to travel or journey (related to 'thoroughfare' and 'wayfarer'). Over centuries, the word shifted from the journey itself to the cost of taking that journey.
Word relationships
- charge: 'Charge' is a broad term for any cost, while 'fare' is strictly for transportation travel.
- tariff: 'Tariff' refers to official rate schedules or taxes rather than individual ticket prices.
- refund: 'Refund' is money returned rather than paid for passage.
Commonly confused with
- fair: 'Fair' means equitable, light-colored, or a carnival, whereas 'fare' is travel money.
Word family
- farer (noun): A traveler (e.g., wayfarer).
Collocations
- bus fare
- taxi fare
- flat fare
- fare evasion
- fare box
Idioms & expressions
- pay your fare
Example sentences
- "Passengers must tap their cards to pay the bus fare before sitting down." Public transit
- "He reached into his pocket to pull out money for the driver's fare." Literature citation
Memory hook
Pay the fare to travel far. Pay to go far.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'fair' (just, equitable) or 'fair' (an outdoor festival).
Fun facts
- In archaic English, 'fare' meant a journey; words like 'thoroughfare' and 'farewell' retain this ancient sense.
Also appears in
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