equality

American  

[ih-kwol-i-tee] / ɪˈkwɒl ɪ ti /

noun

• equalities
  plural

1. 

   the state or quality of being equal; correspondence in quantity, degree, value, rank, or ability.

   The district is implementing a college readiness plan to achieve equality of outcomes for its graduates applying to higher education programs.

   Synonyms:

   impartiality, sameness, identity, parity, equivalence

2. uniform character, as of motion or surface.

3. Mathematics.

   1. the relationship between equal quantities, as expressed in an equation.

   2. a statement that two quantities are equal; equation.

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equality British  

/ ɪˈkwɒlɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state of being equal

2. maths a statement, usually an equation, indicating that quantities or expressions on either side of an equal sign are equal in value

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• subequality
  noun
• proequality
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• equalities
  plural

Etymology

Origin of equality

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin aequālitāt- (stem of aequālitās ); see equal, -ity

Explanation

Equality is when things are the same (equal) in some particular way. You had to rethink your campaign for equality in the household when you realized this meant doing your own laundry and sharing the remote control. Equality means "the state of being equal." It's one of the ideals a democratic society, and so the fight to attain different kinds of equality, like racial equality, gender equality, or equality of opportunity between rich and poor, is often associated with progress toward that ideal of everyone being truly equal. Equality doesn't have to be used only for social ideals, though. There can be equality in weight between two barrels of apples, or between two molecules.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

equality equalities

Research she co-led into why drag racing leads the way for equality in motorsport did not identify physical or biological factors, she says.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

Grammy winner Macklemore, facing pressure to drop from Ed Sheeran’s tour, says ‘my message is for peace, love for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect and equality.’

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026

The pair visited Parliament earlier this month to advocate for there to be more racial equality in prisons.

From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026

The new rules would also require tech companies to protect under 18s from harmful content that promotes or encourages eating disorders or hostile ideas about women and gender equality.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026

“While others argued the equality of woman with man, I proved it by successful engaging in business,” Woodhull was quoted in the New York Herald.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, who is also minister for women and equalities, has often spoken of her own childhood - of seeing "first hand, what happens when you have schools that are falling down".

From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026

NI has different equalities laws from the rest of the UK so the NI Equality Commission is seeking a High Court ruling on how that Supreme Court ruling should be interpreted.

From BBC ● May 15, 2026

A self-described "proper working-class" woman, Rayner rose quickly in Westminster, taking up the women and equalities, and education briefs in the shadow cabinet of former Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn.

From BBC ● May 14, 2026

"There is some dispute about the equalities act at moment," he claimed.

From BBC ● Apr. 15, 2026

Unfortunately perhaps, people are more sensitive to absolute differences between people than they are to rough equalities between them.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos

Related Words

• civil rights
• coordination
• equal opportunity
• fairness
• identity
• impartiality
• parity
• tolerance