equate

[ih-kweyt]

verb (used with object)

equated, equating 

1. to regard, treat, or represent as equivalent.

   We cannot equate the possession of wealth with goodness.

2. to state the equality of or between; put in the form of an equation.

   to equate growing prosperity with the physical health of a nation.

3. to reduce to an average; make such correction or allowance in as will reduce to a common standard of comparison.

equate

/ ɪˈkweɪt /

verb

1. to make or regard as equivalent or similar, esp in order to compare or balance

2. maths to indicate the equality of; form an equation from

3. (intr) to be equal; correspond

Other Word Forms

• equatability noun
• equatable adjective
• unequated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of equate¹

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin aequātus (past participle of aequāre to make equal), equivalent to aequ ( us ) equal + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of equate¹

C15: from Latin aequāre to make _equal

Example Sentences

The army at the time rejected "foreign interference" - which observers say is a reference to the UAE - and any attempts that equated it with a "racist terrorist militia that relies on foreign mercenaries".

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What to do with this inanimate object, whose newly visible rust spots Ms. Wilson began to equate with the cracks she had failed to discern in her marriage?

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Somehow Mr. Carlson equates this defensible contention with the idea that “you should be killed by virtue of who your parents are.”

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This would have equated to 48% fewer deaths in the first wave.

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In the decades since, disability activists have done so much work to demonstrate there is no reason to equate the body and mind in such a literal way.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• associate 
• liken 
• relate