inequality

noun

in·​equal·​i·​ty ˌi-ni-ˈkwä-lə-tē 

1

: the quality of being unequal or uneven: such as

a

: social disparity

b

: disparity of distribution or opportunity

c

: lack of evenness

d

: the condition of being variable : changeableness

2

: an instance of being unequal

3

: a formal statement of inequality between two quantities usually separated by a sign of inequality (such as <, >, or ≠ signifying respectively is less than, is greater than, or is not equal to)

Examples of inequality in a Sentence

They discussed the problem of inequality between students.

He accused the company of inequality in its hiring practices.

He has proposed a new system designed to remove inequalities in health care.

Recent Examples on the Web

From hiring algorithms to predictive policing, biases embedded in AI systems risk perpetuating inequalities and reinforcing societal divides. —Jason Snyder, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2025

The expansion of wealth inequality is a challenge to the American Dream: the notion that, with hard work, opportunity and prosperity are accessible to all. —Tom Kemeny, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2025

First, do conventional measures of growth, such as the change in a country’s gross national product, omit key aspects of collective social welfare, such as environmental quality and income inequality? —Foreign Affairs, 14 Jan. 2025

While the racial income gap is smaller than the wealth gap, persistent income inequality and the growing divide between the highest and lowest earners have exacerbated racial disparities in net worth. —Cheyanne M. Daniels, The Hill, 14 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English inequalite, from Latin inaequalitat-, inaequalitas, from inaequalis unequal, from in- + aequalis equal

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing inequality

• triangle inequality

Kids Definition

inequality

noun

in·​equal·​i·​ty ˌin-i-ˈkwäl-ət-ē 

plural inequalities

1

: the quality of being unequal

2

: an instance of being unequal (as an irregularity in a surface)

3

: a statement in mathematics or logic that two quantities usually separated by a special sign (as <, >, or ≠ respectively meaning "is less than," "is greater than," or "is not equal to") are not equal