=

EQUAL

["Think of the symbol used in math to show two sides are balanced or the same in value. It’s also a word that means fair or identical in amount."]

The clue uses the equals sign (=) as a straightforward symbol for equality. Since "=" literally means "equal," the answer is simply the word that matches that meaning. There’s no hidden wordplay or trick here—it’s a direct definition where the symbol itself is the hint. Think of it like a math problem where the symbol gives away the answer.