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

His attorneys contend that applying the money-laundering guidelines produces a punishment wildly disproportionate to the underlying offense and point to substantially shorter sentences in other foreign-agent cases. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 29 Sep. 2026

Future batteries should accept extremely high charging power without requiring disproportionate infrastructure investment. — Vincent Yang, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026

The Middle East produces a disproportionate share of the oil used to refine diesel, leading its price to rise faster than gasoline since the conflict began in February. — ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026

Because the fees are calculated according to weight, glass is facing disproportionate costs compared to cardboard and plastic. — Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 21 Sep. 2026

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