Main Difference
The main difference between Exhibition and Fair is that the Exhibition is a organized presentation and display of a selection of items or pictures and Fair is a gathering of people for a variety of entertainment or commercial activities.
Exhibition
An exhibition, in the most general sense, is an organised presentation and display of a selection of items. In practice, exhibitions usually occur within a cultural or educational setting such as a museum, art gallery, park, library, exhibition hall, or World’s fairs. Exhibitions can include many things such as art in both major museums and smaller galleries, interpretive exhibitions, natural history museums and history museums, and also varieties such as more commercially focused exhibitions and trade fairs.
In British English the word “exhibition” is used for a collection of items placed on display, and the event as a whole, which in American English is usually an “exhibit”. In both varieties of English each object being shown within an exhibition is an “exhibit”.
In common usage, “exhibitions” are considered temporary and usually scheduled to open and close on specific dates. While many exhibitions are shown in just one venue, some exhibitions are shown in multiple locations and are called travelling exhibitions, and some are online exhibitions. Exhibitions featuring especially fragile or valuable objects, or live animals—may be shown only during a formal presentation, under the close supervision of attendant or educator. Temporary exhibits that are transported from institution to institution are traveling exhibits.
Though exhibitions are common events, the concept of an exhibition is quite wide and encompasses many variables. Exhibitions range from an extraordinarily large event such as a World’s fair exposition to small one-artist solo shows or a display of just one item. Curators are sometimes involved as the people who select the items in an exhibition. Writers and editors are sometimes needed to write text, labels and accompanying printed material such as catalogs and books. Architects, exhibition designers, graphic designers and other designers may be needed to shape the exhibition space and give form to the editorial content. Organizing and holding exhibitions also requires effective event planning, management, and logistics.
Fair
A fair (archaic: faire or fayre), also known as a funfair, is a gathering of people for a variety of entertainment or commercial activities. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary with scheduled times lasting from an afternoon to several weeks.
Exhibition (noun)
An instance of exhibiting, or something exhibited.
Exhibition (noun)
A large-scale public showing of objects or products.
“There was an art exhibition on in the town hall.”
“a boat exhibition”
Exhibition (noun)
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.
Exhibition (noun)
A game which does not impact the standings for any major cup or competition.
Fair (adjective)
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 (adjective)
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 (adjective)
Light in color, pale, particularly as regards skin tone but also referring to blond hair.
“She had fair hair and blue eyes.”
Fair (adjective)
Just, equitable.
“He must be given a fair trial.”
Fair (adjective)
Adequate, reasonable, or decent.
“The patient was in a fair condition after some treatment.”
Fair (adjective)
Favorable to a ship’s course.
Fair (adjective)
Not overcast; cloudless; clear; pleasant; propitious; said of the sky, weather, or wind, etc.
“a fair sky;”
“a fair day”
Fair (adjective)
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 (adjective)
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 (adjective)
Between the baselines.
Fair (noun)
Something which is fair (in various senses of the adjective).
“When will we learn to distinguish between the fair and the foul?”
Fair (noun)
A woman, a member of the ‘fair sex’; also as a collective singular, women.
Fair (noun)
Fairness, beauty.
Fair (noun)
A fair woman; a sweetheart.
Fair (noun)
Good fortune; good luck.
Fair (noun)
A community gathering to celebrate and exhibit local achievements.
Fair (noun)
An event for public entertainment and trade, a market.
Fair (noun)
An event for professionals in a trade to learn of new products and do business, a trade fair.
Fair (noun)
A travelling amusement park (called a funfair in British English and a (travelling) carnival in US English).
Fair (verb)
To smoothen or even a surface (especially a connection or junction on a surface).
Fair (verb)
To bring into perfect alignment (especially about rivet holes when connecting structural members).
Fair (verb)
To construct or design a structure whose primary function is to produce a smooth outline or reduce air drag or water resistance.
Fair (verb)
To make fair or beautiful.
Fair (adverb)
clearly, openly, frankly, civilly, honestly, favorably, auspiciously, agreeably
Fair (adjective)
treating people equally without favouritism or discrimination
“the group has achieved fair and equal representation for all its members”
“a fairer distribution of wealth”
Fair (adjective)
just or appropriate in the circumstances
“to be fair, this subject poses special problems”
“it’s not fair to take it out on her”
Fair (adjective)
(of a means or procedure) not violent
“try first by fair means”
Fair (adjective)
(of hair or complexion) light; blonde
“a pretty girl with long fair hair”
Fair (adjective)
(of a person) having a light complexion or hair
“he’s very fair with blue eyes”
Fair (adjective)
considerable though not outstanding in size or amount
“he did a fair bit of coaching”
Fair (adjective)
moderately good
“he believes he has a fair chance of success”
Fair (adjective)
complete; utter
“this cow is a fair swine”
Fair (adjective)
(of weather) fine and dry
“a fair autumn day”
Fair (adjective)
(of the wind) favourable
“they set sail with a fair wind”
Fair (adjective)
beautiful
“the fairest of her daughters”
Fair (adjective)
(of words) specious despite being initially attractive
“the Sophists have plenty of brave words and fair devices”
Fair (adverb)
without cheating or trying to achieve unjust advantage
“no one could say he played fair”
Fair (adverb)
to a high degree
“she’ll be fair delighted to see you”
Fair (noun)
a beautiful woman
“pursuing his fair in a solitary street”
Fair (noun)
a gathering of stalls and amusements for public entertainment
“I won a goldfish at the fair”
Fair (noun)
a periodic gathering for the sale of goods.
Fair (noun)
an exhibition to promote particular products
“the European Fine Art Fair”
Fair (noun)
an annual competitive exhibition of livestock, agricultural products, etc., held by a town, county, or state.
Fair (verb)
(of the weather) become fine
“looks like it’s fairing off some”
Fair (verb)
streamline (a vehicle, boat, or aircraft) by adding fairings
“it is fully faired and race ready”