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.

---

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

---

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

But for law professor Anna Gamper of the University of Innsbruck, this system raises serious questions about equality.

From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026

More recently, the fight for marriage equality in Obergefell and even gun rights in Heller.

From Slate ● Aug. 10, 2026

"This is because the party's restrictions on access run counter to Unison's policy on trans equality."

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026

This American hero understood that his personal success was no substitute for broad equality and achievement.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026

In their pages, spirits were a crazy idea from upstate, like abolition or women’s equality: “There are many queer people and queer things in Rochester.”

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

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 ● Jul. 21, 2026

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

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

Earlier this year, equalities minister Olivia Bailey, reiterated the government's intention to stop conversion practices.

From BBC ● May 10, 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