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inequality

[ in-i-kwol-i-tee ]

/ ˌɪn ɪˈkwɒl ɪ ti /

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See synonyms for: inequality / inequalities on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural in·e·qual·i·ties.

the condition of being unequal; lack of equality; disparity: inequality of size.

social or economic disparity: inequality between rich and poor people;widening income inequality in America.
unequal opportunity or treatment resulting from this disparity: inequality in healthcare and education.

disparity or relative inadequacy in natural endowments: a startling inequality of intellect, talents, and physical stamina.

injustice; favoritism; partiality.

unevenness, as of surface.

an instance of unevenness.

variableness, as of climate.

Astronomy.

any component part of the departure from uniformity in astronomical phenomena, especially in orbital motion.
the amount of such a departure.

Mathematics. a statement that two quantities are unequal, indicated by the symbol ≠; alternatively, by the symbol <, signifying that the quantity preceding the symbol is less than that following, or by the symbol >, signifying that the quantity preceding the symbol is greater than that following.

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Origin of inequality

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English inequalite “unevenness, disparity,” from Old French inequalite, from Latin inaequālitāt- stem of inaequālitās “irregularity, inequity, inconsistency”; see origin at in-³, equality

Words nearby inequality

inenarrable, inept, ineptitude, ineptness, inequable, inequality, inequilateral, inequitable, inequity, inequivalve, ineradicable

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use inequality in a sentence

For example, look at the enormous inequality of the education system.
Does Anyone Really Know What Socialism Is? (Ep. 408 Rebroadcast)|Stephen J. Dubner|September 17, 2020|Freakonomics
This prevents them from generating significant wealth and perpetuates systemic inequality.
Opportunity Zones haven’t fully reached their potential, but don’t write them off yet|jakemeth|September 16, 2020|Fortune
Advances in technology have often benefited the West while exacerbating economic inequality, political oppression, and environmental destruction elsewhere.
AI ethics groups are repeating one of society’s classic mistakes|Amy Nordrum|September 14, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Everyone should have access to the immense possibilities that the tech industry provides, but for the actual numbers to reflect this requires actively addressing the very unconscious biases that have contributed to rampant inequality.
The 2019 TechCrunch Include Report|Henry Pickavet|September 11, 2020|TechCrunch

The economists also think racial inequality in unemployment — a big problem in August’s jobs report — won’t be much better by year’s end.
Economists’ Best- And Worst-Case Scenarios For The Recovery Haven’t Changed Very Much|Neil Paine (neil.paine@fivethirtyeight.com)|September 10, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
The Perfect Storm writer talks combat brotherhood and the threat posed by growing wealth inequality.
Sebastian Junger on War, Loss, and a Divided America|The Daily Beast Video|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Parker tells of a new Texas struggling to deal with inequality.
Will Texas Stay Texan?|David Fontana|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Thomas Piketty raised the Big Questions this year about democracy and inequality.
American Democracy Under Threat for 250 Years|Jedediah Purdy|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Piketty only waves his hands around the all-important question of whether economic inequality undermines democracy.
American Democracy Under Threat for 250 Years|Jedediah Purdy|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In fact, there is still a lot to do to rid the entire world of gay inequality.
How You Can Help Make a More LGBT-Friendly World||December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There must be therefore no superiority of man over woman, no inequality, domestic or political.
The Life of Mazzini|Bolton King
As a matter of fact, it didn't occur to us that there was any personal inequality between us.
The New Machiavelli|Herbert George Wells
Universal suffrage, for example, could not long exist in a community where there was great inequality of property.
Select Speeches of Daniel Webster|Daniel Webster
The sight of his father's situation made the son forget the inequality of the contest which he was about to provoke.
Peveril of the Peak|Sir Walter Scott
I stumbled over some inequality of the ground, and we all three fell prone.
The Fire People|Ray Cummings

British Dictionary definitions for inequality

inequality

/ (ˌɪnɪˈkwɒlɪtɪ) /

noun plural -ties

the state or quality of being unequal; disparity

an instance of disparity

lack of smoothness or regularity

social or economic disparity

maths

a statement indicating that the value of one quantity or expression is not equal to another, as in x ≠ y
a relationship between real numbers involving inequality: x may be greater than y, denoted by x > y, or less than y, denoted by x < y

astronomy a departure from uniform orbital motion

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