disproportion
Americannoun
-
lack of proportion; lack of proper relationship in size, number, etc..
architectural disproportions.
-
something out of proportion.
the disproportions of an awkward body.
verb (used with object)
noun
-
lack of proportion or equality
-
an instance of disparity or inequality
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of disproportion
1545–55; dis- 1 + proportion; compare Middle French disproportion
Explanation
If you don’t think you got a fair share of cake at a birthday party, there might have been a disproportion in the way the cake was served. A disproportion is a lack of balance or equality. Disproportion contains the prefix dis- which means “not” or “away from,” and the noun proportion which means “a proper, equal share.” Therefore, disproportion refers to an unequal and improper share. This noun is usually used in a negative context to point out something that is imbalanced or unfair, such as a disproportion of funds, food, or freedoms. Disproportion is also used in reference to the body; if your feet seem too big, they are in disproportion to your body.
Vocabulary lists containing disproportion
"A Sound of Thunder" by Ray Bradbury
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Prince and The Pauper
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
A Dance with Dragons
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“It is not a great disproportion between ourselves and others which produces envy, but on the contrary, a proximity,” wrote David Hume, the 18th-century philosopher and economist.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 5, 2025
Such a disproportion between fundraising and expenditure, between money coming in and money going out, is frankly unsustainable for this — or any — art museum, especially when inflation is factored in.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 18, 2025
That this feeling of disproportion is fainter in the Broadway production than in 2018 may provide a clue to the answer.
From New York Times • Apr. 21, 2022
Fisher’s note of late had come from his gargantuan contract and its mathematical disproportion to his meaningful wins.
From Washington Post • Oct. 10, 2021
Tyrion Lannister had lived all his life in a world that was too big for him, but in the manse of Illyrio Mopatis the sense of disproportion assumed grotesque dimensions.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
