inequity
Americannoun
plural
inequities-
lack of equity; unfairness; favoritism or bias.
-
an unfair circumstance or proceeding.
noun
-
lack of equity; injustice; unfairness
-
an unjust or unfair act, sentence, etc
Etymology
Origin of inequity
Compare meaning
How does inequity compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
The noun inequity describes a situation that’s not fair. If you feel, for example, that your brother gets to do whatever he wants while you must follow the rules to the letter, you might rage against inequity. The prefix in- in inequity means “not” or “opposite of.” Equity, means "justice or fairness." Put it together and you get inequity: something that’s unfair or unjust. The word can be used to describe a wide range of unfair situations, such as an inequity in a school's buying new equipment for the football team while the field hockey team continues to wear uniforms from 1981.
Vocabulary lists containing inequity
President Biden's Inaugural Speech (January 2021)
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I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
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The First Democratic Debate: Candidates' Most Relevant Words
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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.
The inequity sparked a firestorm on social media.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026
There have been many examples of inequity between the men’s and women’s tournaments.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026
"There's a real inequity in terms of the opportunity for young people to study computing science at school," she said.
From BBC • Sep. 4, 2025
Just a slow erasure of the vocabulary that recognizes inequity, and those impacted by it.
From Salon • May 3, 2025
They also appear to have increased inequity, creating a chasm between those who have figured out how to trade and those who have not.
From "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" by Blaine Harden
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.
