hiring-fair: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareHistorical, Literary, British
Quick answer
What does “hiring-fair” mean?
A historical event, traditionally held annually in a market town, where farm workers and domestic servants would gather to be hired for the coming year by prospective employers.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A historical event, traditionally held annually in a market town, where farm workers and domestic servants would gather to be hired for the coming year by prospective employers.
A fair or event where workers are hired, often for seasonal or temporary positions; can be used metaphorically for any event where employment is the primary purpose, though the term is strongly associated with historical and rural contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively British/Irish in historical reference. The concept was largely absent in American history, though similar 'hiring days' for farm labor existed. Americans are far less likely to recognize the term.
Connotations
In the UK: historical, rustic, often romanticized or seen as exploitative depending on context. In the US: largely unknown; if recognized, it is viewed as a quaint British historical curiosity.
Frequency
Extremely rare in modern UK usage, found only in historical texts, period dramas, or academic discussions. Effectively non-existent in modern American English.
Grammar
How to Use “hiring-fair” in a Sentence
The [LOCATION] hiring-fair was held every [TIME].[PERSON/GROUP] attended the hiring-fair to seek employment as a [JOB].[EMPLOYER] hired [WORKER] at the hiring-fair.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hiring-fair” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The farmers would come to hire-fair hands for the harvest. (archaic)
adjective
British English
- The hiring-fair tradition died out after the First World War.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in modern business contexts. May appear in discussions of HR history.
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, or literary studies focusing on rural labor markets in 18th-19th century Britain.
Everyday
Virtually never used. Might appear in historical novels or documentaries.
Technical
Not a technical term in any modern field.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hiring-fair”
- Using it to refer to a modern job fair (anachronistic).
- Spelling as 'highering-fair'.
- Assuming it is a current term.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While conceptually similar, a hiring-fair refers specifically to a historical, often annual, event for hiring farm labour and domestic servants for a fixed term (usually a year), with strong legal and social customs attached. Modern job fairs are more general and informal.
They were most common in Britain and Ireland from the 17th to the early 20th centuries, declining rapidly after the First World War due to changes in agriculture and labour laws.
A 'mop fair' is another name for a hiring-fair, particularly in the Midlands and South of England. Servants would carry a symbol of their trade (e.g., a mop for a housemaid) to indicate the type of work they sought.
It is not recommended. Using it would be seen as anachronistic or intentionally archaic. Use terms like 'job fair', 'careers fair', or 'recruitment event' instead.
A historical event, traditionally held annually in a market town, where farm workers and domestic servants would gather to be hired for the coming year by prospective employers.
Hiring-fair is usually historical, literary, british in register.
Hiring-fair: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhaɪərɪŋ ˌfeə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhaɪrɪŋ ˌfɛr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To be hired at the mop (UK regional, synonymous with hiring-fair).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the historical fair where you were 'hired' for a 'year' – hiring-fair.
Conceptual Metaphor
LABOUR IS A COMMODITY (to be publicly traded at market).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'hiring-fair' most closely associated with?