equitable
Americanadjective
-
characterized by equity or fairness; just and right; fair.
equitable treatment of all citizens.
- Synonyms:
- unprejudiced, unbiased, objective, impartial, dispassionate, just, fair, evenhanded
- Antonyms:
- prejudiced, biased, inequitable, unequitable, unjust, unfair
-
Law.
adjective
-
impartial or reasonable; fair; just
an equitable decision
-
law relating to or valid in equity, as distinct from common law or statute law
-
law (formerly) recognized in a court of equity only, as claims, rights, etc
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of equitable
Explanation
Equitable distribution means everyone gets their fair share of something.If you work on a group project in class, you want an equitable share of the credit. When you look at equitable, you might think you see the word, equal, but it doesn't mean fair in the sense of exactly the same. If you worked ten hours at a lemonade stand and your friend worked five, you'd want an equitable share of the profits rather than an equal share. Equitable would take into account the amount of work you did, equal would not.
Vocabulary lists containing equitable
Grade 9, List 5
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "E"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
30 GRE Words Beginning with "E" and "F"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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 Police Commission said in a statement that it is still waiting on the report, adding that “fair and equitable hiring of sworn and civilian employees remains a priority.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026
"A lot of the fiber is taken off" in the industrial process, said Danielle Nierenberg, president of the not-for-profit Food Tank which seeks to build sustainable and equitable food systems.
From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026
“What makes today’s ruling so off-base is the Court’s lack of situational awareness regarding this equitable judgment,” Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote in her dissent.
From Salon ● Aug. 24, 2026
We can use some of those revenues to make Social Security contributions more equitable.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026
“But the constant lecturing on the perils of dogged bowels—not quite an equitable trade, is it?”
From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
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.
