inequality

American  

[in-i-kwol-i-tee] / ˌɪn ɪˈkwɒl ɪ ti /

noun

• inequalities
  plural

1. the condition of being unequal; lack of equality; disparity.

   inequality of size.

2. 1. social or economic disparity: widening income inequality in America.

      inequality between rich and poor people;

      widening income inequality in America.

   2. unequal opportunity or treatment resulting from this disparity.

      inequality in healthcare and education.

3. disparity or relative inadequacy in natural endowments.

   a startling inequality of intellect, talents, and physical stamina.

4. injustice; favoritism; partiality.

5. unevenness, as of surface.

6. an instance of unevenness.

7. variableness, as of climate.

8. Astronomy.

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

   2. the amount of such a departure.

9. 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.

---

inequality British  

/ ˌɪnɪˈkwɒlɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being unequal; disparity

2. an instance of disparity

3. lack of smoothness or regularity

4. social or economic disparity

5. maths

   1. a statement indicating that the value of one quantity or expression is not equal to another, as in x ≠ y

   2. 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

6. astronomy a departure from uniform orbital motion

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• inequalities
  plural

---

Etymology

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

---

Explanation

When there's an inequality, something is out of balance and things are not equal. An inequality occurs in math when the two quantities are not the same measure or amount. In society, an inequality occurs when rights and privileges are not applied fairly. The civil rights movement in the 1950s and 60s, for example, arose because of inequalities between the races. Blacks in the South could not sit in the front of the bus, drink from the same water fountains as whites, or even attend the same schools. People protested this inequality in many ways, including bus strikes, sit-ins, and marches.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

inequality inequalities

We suspect he’d say that none of these suggestions would reduce inequality or the national debt.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026

"This is the first effort to systematically measure inequalities in NCDs and their risk factors on a global scale," said Ahmad Reza Hosseinpoor, who leads the WHO's health inequality monitoring team.

From Barron's ● Oct. 20, 2026

Even as wealth inequality has become more stark, workers pay Social Security taxes only on income up to $184,500.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2026

Some of it is inequality and having to work too many jobs to make a living, much less have an argument.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

“Imprudent, if you please—but not mad. Excepting inequality of fortune, and perhaps a little disparity of age, I can see nothing unsuitable.”

From "Emma" by Jane Austen

The protests have drawn fresh attention to longstanding inequalities in France's education system, where schools serving the poorest communities often struggle for resources despite substantial public spending.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

Announcing the beginning of the review earlier this week, the Scottish government said it would look at inequalities such as the higher rates of maternal death among Black and Asian women.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

“Brazil is a society marked by profound inequalities—economic, racial and gender inequalities, among others,” said Cortez.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

And she said the racial disparities in SAT results are seen in other standardized measures of academic knowledge and reflect of the nation’s inequalities in K-12 education rather than a specific problem with the SAT.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2026

Back in high school, she was extremely vocal in pointing out hypocrisies in the curriculum, or inequalities in their disciplinary system—and nothing has really changed now that she’s a social ecology major at UC Irvine.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• bias
• difference
• discrimination
• disparity
• diversity
• injustice
• unfairness

---