disparity

[dih-spar-i-tee]

noun

plural

disparities 

1. lack of similarity or equality; inequality; difference.

   a disparity in age; disparity in rank.

disparity

/ dɪˈspærɪtɪ /

noun

1. inequality or difference, as in age, rank, wages, etc

2. dissimilarity

Other Word Forms

• nondisparity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of disparity¹

First recorded in 1545–55; from Middle French desparite, from Late Latin disparitās; equivalent to dis- ¹ + parity ¹

Synonym Study

See difference.

Example Sentences

When Jimmy Stewart crash-landed in an alternative timeline, he was aghast at the economic disparity.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

There were wide disparities by location: Advantage enrollees in San Diego had access to only 18% of doctors who take traditional Medicare.

Read more on Barron's

Social inequality has been a major challenge in Morocco, where deep regional disparities persist alongside a gap between the public and private sectors.

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The change produced a clear gender disparity, with unemployment among men falling to 8.97 percent but climbing to 12.11 percent for women.

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Three experts who spoke to BBC Verify suggested that the disparity between the markers and the IDF map was an intentional design to warn civilians they are "approaching an area of increased risk".

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• difference 
• discrepancy 
• distinction 
• divergence 
• gap 
• imbalance 
• inequality 
• variation