disparity
Americannoun
noun
-
inequality or difference, as in age, rank, wages, etc
-
dissimilarity
Synonym Usage
See difference.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of disparity
First recorded in 1545–55; from Middle French desparite, from Late Latin disparitās; equivalent to dis- 1 + parity 1
Explanation
If there is a disparity between how great you think you are at tennis and how you actually play, you are probably surprised by how often you lose. Disparity is the condition of being unequal, and a disparity is a noticeable difference. Disparity usually refers to a difference that is unfair: economic disparities exist among ethnic groups, there is a disparity between what men and women earn in the same job. This noun derives from Latin dispar "unequal." The opposite of disparity is parity, the condition of being equal or the same.
Vocabulary lists containing disparity
Grade 9, List 5
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "D"
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This Week in Words: September 29 - October 5, 2018
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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.
See Examples For:
There is also a question of financial disparity.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
JPMorgan’s Mislav Matejka presents a tactical, short-term argument, whereas Panmure’s Joachim Klement highlights the long-term implications of the extreme valuation disparity between the U.S. and Europe or the U.K.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 29, 2026
Perhaps no one is entirely consistent, but with Jefferson the disparity could be jarring.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
There are lots of different reasons why there’s such a disparity.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026
As I began to play against nationally ranked players at various tournaments and camps, I realized that the disparity between my potential and theirs was glaring.
From "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates" by Wes Moore
The findings revealed significant disparities in who advances through the process.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 1, 2026
This gap largely reflects longstanding economic and caregiving disparities.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026
The helpline's founder, Wendy Watson, said disparities were not just cross-border but could exist between health boards and trusts across England and Wales.
From BBC ● Jun. 16, 2026
But Saldaña said all three of the union’s ballot proposals tie into an overarching strategy to counter the widening healthcare disparities caused by the federal law.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2026
While the rest of the country has fitfully cut back welfare and continues to debate class disparities and the barriers to mobility, Whitiker has quietly traversed several classes in a single lifetime.
From "Class Matters" by The New York Times
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.
