equity

[ek-wi-tee]

noun

plural

equities 

1. the quality of being fair or impartial; fairness; impartiality.

   the equity of Solomon.

   Synonyms: justice, objectivity, justness, disinterest
   Antonyms: discrimination, bias, injustice, prejudice, partisanship, partiality, inequity

2. something that is fair and just.

   The concepts and principles of health equities and inequities are important to society as a whole.

3. the policy or practice of accounting for the differences in each individual’s starting point when pursuing a goal or achievement, and working to remove barriers to equal opportunity, as by providing support based on the unique needs of individual students or employees.

4. Law.

   1. Also called chancery. the application of the dictates of conscience or the principles of natural justice to the settlement of controversies.

   2. Also called chancery. a system of jurisprudence or a body of doctrines and rules developed in England and followed in the U.S., serving to supplement and remedy the limitations and the inflexibility of the common law.

   3. an equitable or legally valid right or claim.

   4. equity of redemption.

5. the monetary value of a property or business beyond any amounts owed on it in mortgages, claims, liens, etc..

   Over the years, they have carefully avoided tapping into their home equity for unnecessary expenses.

6. Informal.,  ownership, especially when considered as the right to share in future profits or appreciation in value.

7. the interest of the owner of common stock in a corporation.

8. (in a margin account) the excess of the market value of the securities over any indebtedness.

9. Equity. Actors' Equity Association.

equity

¹

/ ˈɛkwɪtɪ /

noun

1. the quality of being impartial or reasonable; fairness

2. an impartial or fair act, decision, etc

3. law a system of jurisprudence founded on principles of natural justice and fair conduct. It supplements the common law and mitigates its inflexibility, as by providing a remedy where none exists at law

4. law an equitable right or claim

   equity of redemption

5. the interest of ordinary shareholders in a company

6. the market value of a debtor's property in excess of all debts to which it is liable

Equity

²

/ ˈɛkwɪtɪ /

noun

1. Full name: Actors' Equity Association. the actors' trade union

equity

¹

1. In real estate, the financial value of someone's property over and above the amount the person owes on mortgages. For example, if you buy a house for $100,000, paying $20,000 down and borrowing $80,000, your equity in the house is $20,000. As you pay off the principal of the loan, your equity will rise.

equity

²

1. A body of rules or customs based on general principles of fair play rather than on common law or statutory law.

Word History and Origins

Origin of equity¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English equite, equitee, equyte, from Old French equité, from Latin aequitāt-, stem of aequitās “evenness, smoothness, fairness”; equi-, -ty ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of equity¹

C14: from Old French equite, from Latin aequitās, from aequus level, _equal

Example Sentences

The majority of equity analysts and investors reckon the stock market will continue to rise in 2026, propelled by more interest rate cuts, a stoic economy and optimism over a broadening AI trade.

Read more on MarketWatch

It is a cost that not only reduces the value of savings but also increases the cost of equity capital for U.K.-listed companies, potentially leading to lower valuations, he says.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“The declines seen over recent months have gone hand in hand with wider market declines, raising concern over the potential implications for equity markets if crypto continues to tumble,” he wrote.

Read more on Barron's

The move sparked a broad selloff in the bond and equity markets.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Wall Street is asking an uncomfortable question it had avoided all year: Has the equity rally finally run out of road?

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• capital 
• investment