equitable
Americanadjective
-
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
-
Law.
adjective
-
impartial or reasonable; fair; just
an equitable decision
-
law relating to or valid in equity, as distinct from common law or statute law
-
law (formerly) recognized in a court of equity only, as claims, rights, etc
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of equitable
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.
Vocabulary lists containing equitable
Grade 9, List 5
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "E"
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30 GRE Words Beginning with "E" and "F"
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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.
"These damages may be very substantial but, nevertheless, this is the fair and equitable thing to do," he posted on his Truth Social platform.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
Christensen hopes artists engaging with the river spurs conversation for more equitable green investments that benefit communities and the environment.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 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
They argued that public policies should help create healthier and more equitable environments.
From Science Daily ● May 19, 2026
Malcolm said, “You turned our dinner party upside down, Tandy. This chop is appropriate, fair, and equitable, and furthermore, for your penalty, you must execute this task while standing on your head.”
From "Confessions of a Murder Suspect" by James Patterson
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.
