inequality

American  

[in-i-kwol-i-tee] / ˌɪn ɪˈkwɒl ɪ ti /

noun

• inequalities
  plural

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.

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inequality British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• inequalities
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of inequality

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

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Explanation

When there's an inequality, something is out of balance and things are not equal. An inequality occurs in math when the two quantities are not the same measure or amount. In society, an inequality occurs when rights and privileges are not applied fairly. The civil rights movement in the 1950s and 60s, for example, arose because of inequalities between the races. Blacks in the South could not sit in the front of the bus, drink from the same water fountains as whites, or even attend the same schools. People protested this inequality in many ways, including bus strikes, sit-ins, and marches.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

inequality inequalities

The protest movement, which brings together Yellow Vest activists, trade unions, and high school and university students, initially focused on the rising cost of living, inequality, and deteriorating learning conditions.

From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026

The Fawcett Society, which campaigns for women and gender equality, has previously said that asking the question risked maintaining historic unfair differences in pay due to gender, race and disability inequality.

From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026

Nigerian economist Bismarck Rewane called what Dangote has done a "democratisation of the economy", in a continent marked by stark inequality between the rich and poor.

From Barron's ● Oct. 27, 2026

My research confirms the trend of rising inequality since 1980, driven by the wealthiest pulling away not just from the middle class, but also from the “merely wealthy.”

From Salon ● Oct. 25, 2026

There then arose schools of thinkers who interpreted history as a cyclical process and claimed to show that inequality was the unalterable law of human life.

From "1984" by George Orwell

Sixty-one percent of likely Latino voters, and 57% of total voters surveyed, do not believe that having a Latino governor would reduce racial inequalities in the state.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026

After casting her vote, Iotova said she wanted to address "the dire issue of poverty" in the EU's poorest member state, "alongside inequalities and regional disparities".

From Barron's ● Oct. 25, 2026

"This is the first effort to systematically measure inequalities in NCDs and their risk factors on a global scale," said Ahmad Reza Hosseinpoor, who leads the WHO's health inequality monitoring team.

From Barron's ● Oct. 20, 2026

Leading doctors have described the situation as "discriminatory" and argued that the lack of access on the NHS is widening health inequalities.

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

Back in high school, she was extremely vocal in pointing out hypocrisies in the curriculum, or inequalities in their disciplinary system—and nothing has really changed now that she’s a social ecology major at UC Irvine.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

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Related Words

• bias
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