coequal

[koh-ee-kwuhl]

adjective

1. equal with another or each other in rank, ability, extent, etc..

   The two top students were coequal.

noun

1. a coequal person or thing.

coequal

/ ˌkəʊɪˈkwɒlɪtɪ, kəʊˈiːkwəl /

adjective

1. of the same size, rank, etc

noun

1. a person or thing equal with another

Other Word Forms

• coequality noun
• coequalness noun
• coequally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of coequal¹

1350–1400; Middle English. See co-, equal

Example Sentences

Voters can hold incumbents accountable in elections — political scientists call this “vertical accountability” — as can coequal branches of government, which we call “horizontal accountability.”

From Los Angeles Times

And the alleged phrase captures the administration’s attitude toward the judiciary, a coequal branch of government, though you’d hardly know it by the justices’ kowtowing to the executive branch.

From Los Angeles Times

The confrontation between two supposedly coequal branches of government has reached a critical stage.

From Salon

"We have a very subservient U.S. Congress, led by Republicans that, quite frankly, are not exercising their authority as a coequal branch of government in holding this White House accountable," Veasey said.

From Salon

Congress is cowed; that’s one supposedly coequal branch of government down.

From Los Angeles Times