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

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

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

But as inequality has supercharged the gap between workers with the highest and lowest incomes, wages above the cap have grown much faster than those under the cap, Romig said.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026

But his brand of market reformism, which lifted millions out of poverty but unleashed inequality, fell out of vogue with the ascent of Xi Jinping, China's most powerful leader in generations, in 2012.

From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026

“Income inequality and the wealth divide in America have widened dramatically, and so has the gap in longevity and health between rich and poor.”

From Salon ● Aug. 11, 2026

At some point disintegrating cohesion produces costs—social, economic and political—that undermine the benefits of the inequality and erode support for the system itself.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 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

The state judge previously threw out two terrorism-related murder charges, saying murder committed for ideological reasons—such as an alleged attempt to draw attention to inequalities in the healthcare system—doesn’t meet the legal definition of terrorism.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

Locke said many Texans have drawn on their faith “to attack inequalities, provide for the needy and, yes, advocate for environmental protections.”

From Salon ● Aug. 3, 2026

"We are committed to reducing health inequalities, GP patient satisfaction is up, and waiting lists are down by 340,000 compared to July 2024," they said.

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026

"Over the past year, cuts to bilateral and multilateral aid have disrupted health systems and widened inequalities," Guterres said in a video address to the assembly.

From Barron's ● May 18, 2026

Not until Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. came to our church and called the signs and other inequalities to our attention did I really start to notice them and their underlying message.

From "While the World Watched: A Birmingham Bombing Survivor Comes of Age during the Civil Rights Movement" by Carolyn Maull McKinstry

Related Words

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