inequality

[ in-i-kwol-i-tee ]

noun

, plural in·e·qual·i·ties.

1. the condition of being unequal; lack of equality; disparity:

   inequality of size.

2. 1. social or economic disparity: widening income inequality in America.

      inequality between rich and poor people;

      widening income inequality in America.

   2. unequal opportunity or treatment resulting from this disparity:

      inequality in healthcare and education.

3. disparity or relative inadequacy in natural endowments:

   a startling inequality of intellect, talents, and physical stamina.

4. injustice; favoritism; partiality.
5. unevenness, as of surface.
6. an instance of unevenness.
7. variableness, as of climate.
8. Astronomy.
   1. any component part of the departure from uniformity in astronomical phenomena, especially in orbital motion.
   2. the amount of such a departure.
9. Mathematics. a statement that two quantities are unequal, indicated by the symbol ≠; alternatively, by the symbol <, signifying that the quantity preceding the symbol is less than that following, or by the symbol >, signifying that the quantity preceding the symbol is greater than that following.

inequality

/ ˌɪnɪˈkwɒlɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being unequal; disparity
2. an instance of disparity
3. lack of smoothness or regularity
4. social or economic disparity
5. maths
   1. a statement indicating that the value of one quantity or expression is not equal to another, as in x ≠ y
   2. a relationship between real numbers involving inequality: x may be greater than y, denoted by x > y, or less than y, denoted by x < y
6. astronomy a departure from uniform orbital motion

Word History and Origins

Origin of inequality¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English inequalite “unevenness, disparity,” from Old French inequalite, from Latin inaequālitāt- stem of inaequālitās “irregularity, inequity, inconsistency”; in- ³, equality

Example Sentences

For example, look at the enormous inequality of the education system.

From Freakonomics

This prevents them from generating significant wealth and perpetuates systemic inequality.

From Fortune

Advances in technology have often benefited the West while exacerbating economic inequality, political oppression, and environmental destruction elsewhere.

From MIT Technology Review

Everyone should have access to the immense possibilities that the tech industry provides, but for the actual numbers to reflect this requires actively addressing the very unconscious biases that have contributed to rampant inequality.

From TechCrunch

The economists also think racial inequality in unemployment — a big problem in August’s jobs report — won’t be much better by year’s end.

From FiveThirtyEight

The Perfect Storm writer talks combat brotherhood and the threat posed by growing wealth inequality.

From The Daily Beast

Parker tells of a new Texas struggling to deal with inequality.

From The Daily Beast

Thomas Piketty raised the Big Questions this year about democracy and inequality.

From The Daily Beast

Piketty only waves his hands around the all-important question of whether economic inequality undermines democracy.

From The Daily Beast

In fact, there is still a lot to do to rid the entire world of gay inequality.

From The Daily Beast

There must be therefore no superiority of man over woman, no inequality, domestic or political.

From Project Gutenberg

As a matter of fact, it didn't occur to us that there was any personal inequality between us.

From Project Gutenberg

Universal suffrage, for example, could not long exist in a community where there was great inequality of property.

From Project Gutenberg

The sight of his father's situation made the son forget the inequality of the contest which he was about to provoke.

From Project Gutenberg

I stumbled over some inequality of the ground, and we all three fell prone.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bias
• difference
• discrimination
• disparity
• diversity
• injustice
• unfairness