disproportionate

adjective

dis·​pro·​por·​tion·​ate ˌdis-prə-ˈpȯr-sh(ə-)nət 

: being out of proportion

a disproportionate share

disproportionately adverb

Examples of disproportionate in a Sentence

He believes that middle-class people bear a disproportionate share of the tax burden.

A disproportionate number of the students are poor.

Recent Examples on the Web

Musk did not provide any data to support his claim, though research has repeatedly concluded that trans people are disproportionate victims of violence. —Abigail Adams, People.com, 21 Mar. 2025

The gender pay gap is driven by several factors, including men and women entering different professions, women shouldering a disproportionate share of childcare, gender differences in salary negotiation, and persistent bias against women in the workplace. —Kim Elsesser, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025

The problem is that a disproportionate percentage of the debt and carrying the lowest coupons is maturing soon. —Michael Khouw, CNBC, 20 Mar. 2025

Latinos do account for a disproportionate share of Medicaid labor and delivery services. —Paula Andalo / Kff Health News and, Miami Herald, 18 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin disprōportiōnātus, past participle of disprōportiōnāre "to make out of proportion," from Latin dis- dis- + Medieval Latin prōportiōnāre "to compose according to proportions" — more at proportion entry 2

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for disproportionate

• extortionate
• proportionate

Kids Definition

disproportionate

adjective

dis·​pro·​por·​tion·​ate ˌdis-prə-ˈpōr-sh(ə-)nət 

-ˈpȯr-

: being out of proportion

disproportionately adverb