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Synonyms

equitable

American  
[ek-wi-tuh-buhl] / ˈɛk wɪ tə bəl /

adjective

  1. characterized by equity or fairness; just and right; fair.

    equitable treatment of all citizens.

    Synonyms:
    unprejudiced, unbiased, objective, impartial, dispassionate, just, fair, evenhanded
    Antonyms:
    prejudiced, biased, inequitable, unequitable, unjust, unfair
  2. Law.

    1. pertaining to or valid in equity.

    2. pertaining to the system of equity, as distinguished from the common law.


equitable British  
/ ˈɛkwɪtəbəl /

adjective

  1. impartial or reasonable; fair; just

    an equitable decision

  2. law relating to or valid in equity, as distinct from common law or statute law

  3. law (formerly) recognized in a court of equity only, as claims, rights, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of equitable

First recorded in 1640–50; equit(y) + -able

Explanation

Equitable distribution means everyone gets their fair share of something.If you work on a group project in class, you want an equitable share of the credit. When you look at equitable, you might think you see the word, equal, but it doesn't mean fair in the sense of exactly the same. If you worked ten hours at a lemonade stand and your friend worked five, you'd want an equitable share of the profits rather than an equal share. Equitable would take into account the amount of work you did, equal would not.

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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.

She added: "Let's put this debate to bed now and get on with what we all want: providing world class, safe equitable midwifery care."

From BBC • Jun. 30, 2026

But even more important, it reminded us that history is an indispensable tool for shaping the more equitable future we hope to inhabit.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026

Traditional equitable principles don’t require such a showing, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for the Court.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026

If policymakers instead focus on strengthening insurance coverage and preventing insurers from denying or delaying access to breakthrough treatments, patients could have equitable access to the miracle drugs of today — and tomorrow.

From Salon • May 15, 2026

Castro promised a more equitable society based on communist principles.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau

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