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.

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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

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Other Word Forms

• equitability noun
• equitableness noun
• equitably adverb
• nonequitable adjective
• quasi-equitable adjective

Etymology

Origin of equitable

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

Example Sentences

According to Americans for Tax Fairness—a group advocating for equitable tax policies—billionaire wealth alone totaled $4 trillion at the end of 2020.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

We’d have to think about what it looks like to produce actually equitable distributions of resources and distributions of burden.

From Salon • Mar. 6, 2026

The ADB has long advocated against direct price subsidies, preferring more targeted approaches that preserve fiscal space and are more equitable.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

The court could see this as equitable fraud or unjust enrichment, usually easier to prove than promissory estoppel.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 23, 2026

“But the constant lecturing on the perils of dogged bowels—not quite an equitable trade, is it?”

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

• decent
• fair
• honest
• proper
• reasonable
• stable
• unbiased