equality
Americannoun
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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
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uniform character, as of motion or surface.
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Mathematics.
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the relationship between equal quantities, as expressed in an equation.
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a statement that two quantities are equal; equation.
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noun
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the state of being equal
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maths a statement, usually an equation, indicating that quantities or expressions on either side of an equal sign are equal in value
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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.
Vocabulary lists containing equality
Figurative Language in King's "I Have a Dream" Speech (1963)
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"The Civil Rights Movement"
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Dear Martin
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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.
But a thoughtful and courageous Congress could go further than just pushing for equality in school sports.
From Slate • Jul. 6, 2026
My hope for this country: I think promoting equality for everyone who steps into the country.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 2, 2026
Would Verstappen, used to Red Bull's sole focus, fit in at McLaren, where equality is central to the team's philosophy?
From BBC • Jul. 2, 2026
I would enshrine gender equality in the Constitution, explicitly clarifying that the Equal Rights Amendment is part of our founding document.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 1, 2026
If Mr. Robinson was struggling and risking his safety for his equality, there must be many other people up North doing the same thing.
From "March Forward, Girl" by Melba Pattillo Beals
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.
