equity

[ ek-wi-tee ]

noun

, plural eq·ui·ties.

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

   the equity of Solomon.

   Synonyms: justice, objectivity, justness, disinterest

   Antonyms: bias, injustice, prejudice, partisanship, partiality, inequity, discrimination

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. Compare equality ( def 1 ).
4. Law.
   1. Also called chan·cer·y [chan, -s, uh, -ree, chahn, -]. the application of the dictates of conscience or the principles of natural justice to the settlement of controversies.
   2. Also called chan·cer·y [chan, -s, uh, -ree, chahn, -]. 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. the actors' trade union Full nameActors' Equity Association

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

Private boards should follow suit and make pay equity a board-level conversation by asking for documented pay practices, promotion and termination distributions, and results of regular pay equity reviews.

From Fortune

Lawmakers have failed to reach agreement on extending $600-a-week supplemental benefits, which expired in July and helped bring some semblance of regional equity to America’s patchwork social safety net.

From Fortune

Dan Ives, managing director of equity research at Wedbush Securities, tells Fortune he expects a 5% to 10% correction in the stock market if Congress fails to pass more stimulus in the next month.

From Fortune

The funding vehicle has gained traction amid the pandemic as private equity shops, hedge funds, CEOs seek to take advantage of the market dislocation.

From Fortune

Momentum from the tech rally, and some promising vaccine news are pushing global equities and futures higher this morning.

From Fortune

After three years in London, he moved to the Structured Equity Finance Trading branch in Hong Kong.

From The Daily Beast

A wealthy private equity investor, Orman is a social moderate and fiscal conservative.

From The Daily Beast

On the other hand, Brazilian private equity firm 3G is the majority owner of Burger King, which is based in Florida.

From The Daily Beast

By joining a private equity firm, the former Florida governor and 2016 hopeful is gambling with his reputation.

From The Daily Beast

So, if Jeb Bush is really considering a White House run in 2016, why is he in the private equity business now?

From The Daily Beast

The terms law and equity are frequently used in the law books and require explanation.

From Project Gutenberg

Equity therefore is a broader term, and is in constant use in legal proceedings.

From Project Gutenberg

Every debt which may be recovered either at law or in equity may be proved in bankruptcy.

From Project Gutenberg

A court of equity though may do this, and enjoin a pledgee from voting the stock whenever the pledgor's rights would be affected.

From Project Gutenberg

A continued to practice as before and B applied to a court of equity to enjoin him.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• capital
• investment