equity

[ ek-wi-tee ]

/ ˈɛk wɪ ti /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR equity ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural eq·ui·ties.

the quality of being fair or impartial; fairness; impartiality: the equity of Solomon.

something that is fair and just: the equities of our criminal-justice system.

Law.

Also called chancery. the application of the dictates of conscience or the principles of natural justice to the settlement of controversies.
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.
an equitable or legally valid right or claim.
equity of redemption.

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.

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

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

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

(initial capital letter) Actors' Equity Association.

Nearby words

Origin of equity

1275–1325; Middle English equite < Latin aequitās. See equi-, -ty²

Word story

Equity is a great example of a word that started out with a general sense that developed more specific senses over time, while still retaining the original meaning. The very first meanings of equity in English were a direct translation from the original Old French equité, a word whose Latin root means “even,” “just,” and “equal.”
It was not until the late 16th century that a new meaning—one that placed equity in the arena of law—emerged. Perhaps because many of the usages of equity involved legal disputes over rights and claims of ownership, by the turn of the 20th century, the word started being used in another sector: finance. It was at this point that terms such as “home equity” and “equity loan” became common finance terms. At the same time, equity started popping up in terms of stock and asset ownership.
In 1913, a small group of actors founded the labor union, Actors’ Equity Association—proof that the original sense of equity was still very much alive. This union, often referred to simply as “Equity” (with a capital E), fights for the rights of actors in the spirit of equity’s Latin roots.

Related Quotations

"Made a judge, and the judge of an adored woman, he found in his soul the equity of a judge as well as the inflexibility."
-Honoré de Balzac transl. by Katharine Prescott Wormeley Farragus: Chief of the Dévorants (1895)
"[H]ome equity borrowing has enormous disadvantages. Home, sweet home is the collateral. If you fall behind on payments, the bank could take it."
-Mark Green, Nancy Youman The Consumer Bible: 1001 Ways to Shop Smart (1998)
"Equity represents ownership in the firm and consists of retained profits and shares issued either privately or through a stock market."
-Robert Y. Redlinger, Per Dannemand Andersen, Poul Erik Morthorst Wind Energy in the 21st Century (2002)
"Equity insisted that striking actors be allowed to return to the positions they held at the time of the walkout."
-Matthew Kennedy Marie Dressler: a A Biography (1999)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for equity

Bonus Tip: Be aware of Equity Crowdfunding Coming to a Portal Near You!
How to Win at Crowdfunding|Bianca Goodloe|April 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But it seems there was another "Joe Lane" in Equity, so the young actor had to make a quick decision.
New York’s Greatest Show Or How They Did Not Screw Up ‘Guys and Dolls’|Ross Wetzsteon|April 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To purchase this equity interest, Usmanov needed $319 million.
Britain’s KGB Sugar Daddy|Michael Weiss|March 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Today, I run a China-focused equity research firm based in New York, called JL Warren Capital.
China’s Schools Teaches Kids to Take Tests, Obey the State, and Not Much More|Junheng Li|November 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Social change, justice, equity, and low-impact lifestyles matter little to them.
The Insurance Industry’s Liberal Turn|Daniel Gross|July 10, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The Queen's speech contained no decided feature beyond recommending a reform in the administration of the Courts of Equity.
The International Monthly, Volume 3, No. 1, April, 1851|Various
Coyle Pardon me, the legal estate you have your equity of redemption.
Our American Cousin|Tom Taylor
In his inmost soul it was his inmost aspiration to be an agent for enthroning here on earth the equity of God.
Abraham Lincoln's Cardinal Traits;|Clark S. Beardslee
He designed a mixture of justice, equity, and mercy; only he left out the first two ingredients.
The Strand Magazine, Volume V, Issue 29, May 1893|Various
Indeed, whatever be the immediate subject of a jurisconsult of this epoch, he may always be called an expositor of Equity.
Ancient Law|Sir Henry James Sumner Maine

British Dictionary definitions for equity

equity

/ (ˈɛkwɪtɪ) /

noun plural -ties

the quality of being impartial or reasonable; fairness

an impartial or fair act, decision, etc

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

law an equitable right or claimequity of redemption

the interest of ordinary shareholders in a company

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

Word Origin for equity

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

Equity

/ (ˈɛkwɪtɪ) /

noun

the actors' trade unionFull name: Actors' Equity Association

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

Word Origin and History for equity

equity

early 14c., from Old French equite (13c.), from Latin aequitatem (nominative aequitas) "equality, conformity, symmetry, fairness," from aequus "even, just, equal" (see equal). As the name of a system of law, 1590s, from Roman naturalis aequitas, the general principles of justice which corrected or supplemented the legal codes.

Culture definitions for equity

equity

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

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.